Japan: A Key Market for U.S. Agriculture
TOKYO, JAPAN (RFD-TV) — Japan remains one of the most important overseas markets for U.S. agriculture, purchasing $14.7 billion in American agricultural and related products during 2025.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports that Japan ranked as the third-largest single-country market for U.S. agricultural exports, behind Mexico and Canada. The United States supplied approximately 18 percent of Japan’s agricultural imports, including corn, wheat, soybeans, beef, pork, dairy, and processed foods.
Japan’s dependence on imported food remains a significant part of its demand. The country produces only about 37 percent of its food by calories, while its farm population continues to shrink, with the average farmer age exceeding 68.
USDA indicates that American agricultural exports to Japan support over 81,000 U.S. jobs across farming, processing, transportation, and related industries. Japan also remains the largest U.S. consumer-oriented food market in the Indo-Pacific.
Despite a declining population, USDA expects Japan’s reliance on imported food and its preference for high-quality products to sustain opportunities for U.S. agricultural exporters.