Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products reached a new high in 2025, extending a run of record-setting years as global demand for Japanese food continued to broaden beyond niche markets.

Shipments of farm and food products rose to more than JPY1.7 trillion ($11bn) according to Kyodo News, marking the 13th consecutive annual record, according to the agriculture ministry. The total was 12.8% higher than the previous year, supported by rising overseas interest in washoku and a growing focus on health-conscious diets.

Green tea was one of the strongest performers, with export values doubling from a year earlier as consumers abroad increasingly associated the product with health benefits. Exports of 20 key items, including beef and rice, also reached record levels, reinforcing the sector’s steady expansion.

Even so, the outcome fell short of the government’s JPY2 trillion export target for 2025, Kyodo added underlining the scale of ambition behind its longer-term goal of lifting annual exports to JPY5 trillion by 2030. Officials say further market development will be essential if that target is to be met.

The US remained Japan’s largest export destination, with shipments rising 13.7% to JPY276.2bn, buoyed by strong demand for green tea and seafood despite higher tariffs introduced last year. Hong Kong ranked second, followed by Taiwan, while China placed fourth even amid ongoing restrictions on Japanese seafood imports linked to diplomatic tensions.