TOKYO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The value of Japan's
agricultural and seafood exports rose 14.3% in 2022 from a year
earlier to 1.41 trillion yen ($11 billion), setting a record for
the 10th consecutive year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries (MAFF) said on Friday.
Exports grew as demand for dining out, which had fallen due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, has recovered in many countries.
Demand from local retail shops and e-commerce has also remained
strong, the ministry said, adding the weaker yen against the
U.S. dollar also lent support.
Exports of agricultural products increased by 10.3%
year-on-year to 887 billion yen, while marine products rose by
28.5% to 387.3 billion yen. Forest products climbed by 11.9% to
63.8 billion yen.
Big gainers were marine products such as scallops to China
and the United States, alcoholic beverages, including whiskey
and Japanese sake to China, fruits and vegetables to Hong Kong
and Taiwan, and milk and dairy products to Vietnam.
But exports to Europe and the United States were affected by
a slowdown in consumption due to rising inflation in the second
half of the year, the ministry said.
Leveraging the global boom in Japanese food, Japan is
seeking to achieve its goal of boosting exports to 2 trillion
yen ahead of its 2025 schedule, according to an official at the
ministry.
($1 = 128.6200 yen)
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
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