Tokyo, Oct. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s 2025 staple rice harvest is forecast to reach a nine-year high of 7,477,000 tons, up 10 pct from the previous year, the agriculture ministry said Friday.

The harvest amount is, thus, expected to exceed 7 million tons for the first time since 2022, the ministry added.

This year’s crop estimate was made from the amount of rice harvested and the number of preharvest rice ears counted as of Sept. 25, when rice cropping was 60 pct finished in the country.

Last month, the ministry projected that 2025 brown rice production would amount to 7.28 million to 7.45 million tons while new crop demand would total 6.97 million to 7.11 million tons.

The latest harvest estimate suggests the possibility of the rice supply excess expanding further. However, it remains to be seen whether retail rice prices, which have surged along with agricultural cooperatives’ advance payments to producers, will turn lower, experts said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Published Date: October 10, 2025