The total export value of agriculture, forestry and fishery products and foods in 2021 will exceed the government's long-term target of 1 trillion yen for the first time.
The main factors are the increase in the number of people who eat at home due to the corona sickness all over the world, and the recovery of demand for eating out in the United States and China.
And there was also the ingenuity of the producers in the background.
Achieved long-standing goals
According to the November trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance on the 16th, the export value of foodstuffs last month was a preliminary figure of 89.9 billion yen.
The export value of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food products including pearls other than food products amounted to 973.4 billion yen from January to October, and the total export value from January to November was 1 trillion. It was 63.3 billion yen.
The export value of agriculture, forestry and fishery products and foods was more than 440 billion yen in 2012, but it has increased year by year and exceeded 800 billion yen in 2017.
In 2020, while the demand for eating out fell due to the impact of the new corona, so-called nesting demand expanded overseas, and exports of agricultural products for households such as chicken eggs increased, resulting in 896 billion yen.
And this is the first time that the government has exceeded the annual target of 1 trillion yen for many years.
What is where?
These are the main agricultural, forestry and fishery products and foods whose export value has increased.
The data from January to October are in descending order of export value.
▽ Scallops: More than doubled from the previous year to 51.6 billion yen
▽ Beef: 89.7% to 41.6 billion yen
▽ Whiskey: 83.6% to 40.5 billion yen
▽ Sauce mixed seasonings such as curry roux and mayonnaise: 18.8% to increase 35.2 billion yen
▽ Soft drinks: 18.4% increase to 33.6 billion yen
▽ Sake: 81.1% increase to 31.8 billion yen
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Let's look at the export destination countries and regions in descending order of export value.
▽ China: 184.1 billion yen, up 40.2% from the same period last year
▽ Hong Kong: 177.8 billion yen, up 8.8%
▽ America: 137.1 billion yen, up 43.8%
▽ Taiwan: 93.5 billion yen, up 24.7%
▽ Vietnam: 453 9.1% increase at 100 million yen
▽ South Korea: 24.6% increase at 40.6 billion yen
Factors are "home eating" and "eating out"
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries cites the strong sales of beef and sake through online shopping in Asia and the United States as the number of people who eat at home due to corona sickness increases all over the world as a factor for the increase in exports.
On the other hand, in the United States and China, demand for eating out has recovered, and exports of scallops and other products have increased.
Producer's ingenuity "Healthy Wagyu" for health consciousness
And, in the background, there was also the ingenuity of producers from all over the country.
At a beef processing and sales company in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, exports of Japanese beef, which is low in fat and pursues the taste of "lean meat", are increasing due to the health consciousness of Corona.
Exports to foreign countries were about 20 tons last year, but this time it has already reached nearly 30 tons, and sales have tripled.
This company is continuing research on artificial mating so that it will be delicious "lean", and will consistently carry out from production to processing and shipping as a group so that high quality beef can be produced stably. It means that there is.
The company has named the meat produced in this way "Umami Wagyu" and has been exporting it to Singapore, Italy and the United States for about 10 years.
Especially in the United States, sales are strong as "healthy Japanese beef" due to the health consciousness of Corona.
Chef Hiro Katayama, a restaurant in a hotel in Maebashi City that offers dishes using this beef, said, "The meat goes well with garnish and sauce, and is an easy-to-assemble ingredient as the main course. The taste of lean meat is attracting attention in the world. I think it matches the current age of health consciousness. "
Expand sales channels with Wasabi “Instagram”
Wasabi farmers in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan's leading wasabi producing areas, are expanding their sales channels using SNS.
Keiichi Mochizuki, the fourth generation of wasabi farmer who has been farming for more than 80 years, exports wasabi to 11 countries and regions such as the United States, France, and South Korea.
Raw wasabi is a high-class ingredient overseas, and in France it is traded at more than five times the market price in Japan, and the spiciness and flavor not found in overseas ingredients are highly evaluated.
When Mr. Mochizuki continued to post photos of wasabi that was conscious of so-called "instagram" in order to sell overseas, celebrities picked it up on the net and ordered from overseas restaurants and domestic exporters. Is now included.
In addition, we have cultivated sales channels in collaboration with restaurants that serve dishes using Japanese beef at overseas stores, and currently, transactions with overseas account for one-third of sales.
Mr. Mochizuki says, "While the restaurant was hit by the corona disaster and domestic demand decreased, it was really helpful to have an overseas export destination."
Exporting "Mottainai" of citrus fruits
Ehime Prefecture is one of the leading citrus producing areas in Japan.
A food processing company in Shikokuchuo City purchases skins that are discarded after the fruits are squeezed for the production of juices and seasonings, and manufactures and exports "peel confectionery" coated with sugar.
Export destinations are France, the United States, Singapore, etc., and it is gaining popularity as a decoration for salads and cakes and as a topping for yogurt.
Orders have surged since this fall, when the overseas economy has recovered in earnest, and overseas sales are expected to more than double last year, reaching a record high.
Mineo Shindo, president of this company, said, "I happened to be able to make it because I wanted to reduce the amount of garbage with a wasteful spirit."
A set of ingredients for one meal
A company in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, which has been selling food to Hong Kong since 2009, has more than doubled its sales compared to before the spread of the new corona.
We are currently focusing on exporting ingredients, seasonings, and recipes that are necessary to make one meal.
Together with employees from Hong Kong, we are developing a dedicated kit that meets local needs.
In Hong Kong, many households do not have a microwave oven, so we are considering ideas such as switching to a method of heating with a water bath or increasing the number of main dishes according to the local eating habits.
Tomohiro Ogura of the overseas division of this company said, "In order to export more Japanese ingredients in the future, it will be important to propose ways to eat according to the lives of local customers. Eliminate the burden of cooking. I feel that there is a great opportunity for products that can be made. "
Expert "Results of working together"
Keisuke Sano of Nomura Research Institute, who is investigating the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products and food, explained the reason for the increase in the export value. It has become a movement that the country will work together as one, and exports have become one of the options for producers. Also, the income of Asian people will increase so that Japanese products for the wealthy can be reached. It is the result of the fact that it has become an export and the Japanese food culture is spreading all over the world. "
The new target is "5 trillion yen by 2030"
The government has set new targets for exports of 2 trillion yen by 2025 and 5 trillion yen by 2030.
In order to achieve the goal, the government will support the production areas that are engaged in exports and develop distribution bases for exporting to the local area while maintaining quality.
However, experts point out that there are many challenges in achieving the goal.
Keisuke Sano of Nomura Research Institute said, "In Japan, decision-making is not smooth, investment and concrete actions are slow, and the responsibility is often ambiguous. There is no place to take responsibility other than progress. 5 In order to reach trillion yen, it is necessary to strategically improve the supply chain and production system by launching a large company that handles everything from production to sales, and by creating a coalition organization. " increase.