Taiwanese rice prices half of Japan’s, boosting export potential.

Carol Yang

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday that Taiwan is expected to export over 10,000 tonnes of rice to Japan this year.

Agriculture Deputy Minister Hu Chung-yi (胡忠一) said that from 2020 to last year, Taiwan exported an average of around 3,500 tonnes of rice to Japan annually. From January to April, rice exports to Japan have reached 5,136 tonnes, per CNA.

Hu said the rice price in Japan has doubled over the past four months, rising from NT$441 (US$13.6) to NT$870 for a five-kilogram package. In contrast, the wholesale price of Taiwanese rice is around NT$40 per kilogram.

Taiwanese and Japanese rice are the same japonica variety, Hu said. However, Taiwanese rice costs about half as much as Japanese rice, giving it a competitive edge in the Japanese market.

Hu said the Japanese government imposes strict import controls to protect domestic rice production. The nation annually allows 770,000 tonnes of rice imports, with 670,000 tonnes purchased by the government for public reserves.

Only 100,000 tonnes of rice are available for foreign importers under a zero-tariff quota in Japan, Hu said. The majority of this quota is allocated to the US and Australia, leaving Taiwan and other countries to compete for the remaining portion.

Hu said that Taiwanese rice has entered institutional meal supply channels in Japan, including schools, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, as well as retail distribution in supermarkets. He added that the latest export effort is being promoted through a partnership between Taiwan’s Okura Rice Shop and three Japanese food suppliers.

Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station said that its “Tainan No. 11” rice variety, which met Japan’s pesticide residue standards due to strict fertilizer and pesticide controls, saw 2,400 tonnes exported to Japan in September. The agency added that the rice was also exported to Singapore and Australia.

Published Date: May 13, 2025