Japan's rice finds fertile ground in China after 75% growth

Expanded shipments to mainland drove record exports in 2018

0213N Japanese rice

China decided to allow rice imports from Japan's Niigata Prefecture, a major growing area, in November.

HISAO KODACHI, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- After growing tenfold in a decade, Japan's rice exports are set for further growth, with an especially keen eye on the world's largest consuming market, mainland China.

Japanese government data shows that exports to China grew 76% year on year to 524 tons in 2018. The growth rate towers over Japan's total outbound rice shipments, which grew 17% to a record 13,794 tons.

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