Japan’s rice demand is set to tick up a bit, reaching about 7.11 million tonnes in the year ending June 2026, according to the country’s agriculture ministry. Officials predict a bigger jump in staple rice production for 2025, hitting 7.45 million tonnes. Farmers are ramping up planting to tackle recent rice shortages, as shown in the latest estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Private stockpiles look strong too, with rice inventories in the sector expected to climb to nearly 2.3 million tonnes by the end of June next year. That’s a high mark, close to the record levels Japan saw back in 2015, reports Xinhua news agency.
For the first time, Japan’s food council subgroup factored in rising demand from foreign tourists and households when projecting rice needs. They usually account for a shrinking population and more people turning to bread, but these new elements could shift things.
Shifting to Southeast Asia, the Philippines might stretch its rice import ban a little longer. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel shared on Friday that better prices for palay—unhusked rice—are prompting the idea. President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos kicked off a 60-day suspension from September to October to shield local farmers during the busy harvest season.
The Department of Agriculture plans to advise Marcos by late September on whether to extend the pause. “Based on early checks, I’m leaning toward recommending at least 15 to 30 more days,” Laurel said.
Early numbers show wet palay prices climbing from just 8-10 pesos (about 0.14-0.17 US dollars) per kilo before the ban to 17 pesos (0.29 dollars) in parts of Mindanao. In key rice-growing areas, prices now hover at 13-14 pesos (0.22-0.24 dollars) per kilo. For context, producing a kilo of palay costs farmers around 12-14 pesos (0.21-0.24 dollars), Laurel noted.
These moves highlight ongoing efforts to stabilize rice markets and support farmers amid global supply pressures.
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