Japan warns of rice import surge threatening domestic farming

Japan's government expressed worry this week about the growing volume of rice imported by private companies and its potential harm to local rice farmers. In its annual white paper on food, agriculture and rural areas adopted Friday, officials flagged the risk that rising imports could shrink demand for domestically grown staple rice.

Rice prices roughly doubled in May 2025 from a year earlier. The spike prompted private-sector importers to bring in more foreign rice. "If this trend continues, demand for domestic staple rice will decrease, which will affect domestic production," the report warned.

The government blamed its own agriculture ministry for the problem. Officials said the ministry made an inaccurate forecast of rice demand, and also delayed releasing government stockpiles when shortages emerged. "We could not dispel the anxiety among wholesalers and others, which led to further price hikes," the white paper explained.

Japan also confronts deeper vulnerabilities in its food supply. The country depends heavily on imports for chemical fertilizers, animal feed, and other farming inputs. "Food security risks are increasing" due to high import costs and export disruptions from producer countries, the report noted. Officials called for expanded use of domestic resources and reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers.

Tensions in the Middle East add another layer of concern. Japan's agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors rely on fossil fuels for over 90% of their energy needs. The government said it will monitor the situation and take steps to protect supplies of fuel oil and petroleum products.