Agriculture, fishery and forestry exports in 2019 fell short of the government's ¥1 trillion ($9.1 billion) goal, the farm ministry said Friday, underscoring the challenges facing the nation in its quest to build a larger presence in overseas markets.
Preliminary data showed such exports rose 0.6 percent from the previous year to ¥912.1 billion, a record high for the seventh straight year, though the pace of growth slowed from 12.4 percent in 2018 due to poor scallop and mackerel catches, as well as a South Korean boycott of Japanese products amid a diplomatic dispute.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has touted a boost in agricultural exports as a pillar of his economic growth strategy, looking to capitalize on the rising popularity of Japanese cuisine abroad.