Japan to resume rice purchases for stockpiling
TOKYO -- The Japanese agriculture ministry plans to resume purchases of rice for the government's stockpiling, starting with next year's harvest, following a pause prompted by the shortage of rice in the country since summer 2024, people familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
Japanese government-stockpiled rice taken out of bags at a mill in Saitama Prefecture on March 18. Photo: Jiji Press
The ministry intends to buy 210,000 tons of unpolished rice.
The government has been releasing rice from its stockpiling since March this year to cope with the shortage, reducing the stocks to about 300,000 tons, compared with some one million tons, a level deemed appropriate.
The ministry is also considering buying back the released rice, totaling about 590,000 tons, over the next few years.
The ministry is working on an estimate for the production of rice to be harvested in 2026 for consumption as staple food.
The estimate will likely be set at 7.11 million tons, down by 370,000 tons from 7.48 million tons projected for 2025 when a sizable production increase is projected.
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