Agriculture, forestry and fisheries exports in 2018 grew 12.4 percent from a year earlier to hit a record high for the sixth straight year, buoyed by strong demand from other Asian nations, the farm ministry said Friday.
The preliminary figure of ¥906.8 billion ($8.3 billion) indicates Tokyo's ¥1 trillion target for farm exports in 2019 is within reach, as shipments are likely to expand further on the popularity of washoku (Japanese food) overseas and the entry into force of major free trade agreements involving Japan.
"To achieve the ¥1 trillion goal, we need an annual growth of more than 10 percent. By supporting producers of export items, we'll strive to meet the target," farm minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a news conference Friday.