By Carah Hart

Peter Bachmann tells Brownfield “in prior years, they would buy one or two cargoes of rice and now they’re buying two or three cargoes of rice minimum, if not four per tender, which I think is significant for us.”

Over the summer, Japan said it would expand U.S. rice exports by 75 percent and purchase $8 billion worth of other ag goods to address a rice shortage and expand U.S. market access. Japan has been following through on its commitment in the trade framework.

Bachmann says it’s unclear if Japan can fulfill the entire promise in the current fiscal year, but they’ll get close. He says the purchase increases don’t directly impact the rice that’s grown in the Delta, but…

“It will move more Calrose rice, which is a medium grain rice to Japan, which will then, in turn, free up more opportunity for other markets. Medium grain markets around the world for southern medium grain.”

He says rice has been a central part of the U.S. and Japan trade discussions, and President Trump has given the crop more exposure on the global stage.

“I think it’s a good sign for the next three years for rice and other agricultural commodities.”

President Trump reiterated the trade framework with Japan in a meeting with the new Prime Minister Takaichi this week. Bachmann says Trump was also served U.S. rice and beef for lunch, which could be viewed as a good-will gesture from Japan.

Published Date: October 29, 2025