Japan’s cherry production bounces back

Japan’s cherry production recovered in the 2022/23 campaign and FAS/Japan forecasts a further increase in 2023/24 due to favourable weather conditions. US sweet cherry exports to Japan also bounced back in 2023/24 buoyed by tariff elimination and recovering US production. FAS/Japan expects Japan’s nectarine production and imports to remain flat. 

In 2022/23, Japan’s peach exports were up by 21.5% to 2,340 tons from the previous year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) designates fresh peaches as a strategically priority product for expanding agricultural exports, mainly to Southeast Asia. Increased domestic peach production further supports increased peach exports. Despite a slight reduction in the domestic peach production in MY 2023/24, the depreciation of the Japanese yen enhances the affordability of Japanese peaches in Southeast Asia. Therefore, Japan’s peach exports are expected to grow by a further 19.7% to 2,800 tons in 2023/24. As for nectarines, the US accounts for 99% of Japan’s imports. In 2022/23, Japan’s nectarine imports remained flat at 340 tons due to a lack of consumer awareness of the fruit.