Japan Releases 210,000 Tons of Emergency Rice Stockpile to Address Supply Issues

The government aims to stabilize soaring rice prices caused by distribution bottlenecks, extreme weather, and increased demand.

The Japanese government will release 210,000 tons of rice from its emergency reserves to combat a sharp rise in prices, marking the first such intervention for distribution issues.
Rice prices in Japan have surged by over 64% year-on-year, with the average price of an 11-pound bag reaching ¥3,688 ($24) in January 2025, up from ¥2,023 last year.
The price spike has been attributed to record-high summer temperatures in 2023, panic buying over disaster warnings, increased tourism, and hoarding by distributors anticipating further price hikes.
The first batch of 150,000 tons will be auctioned to wholesalers in March and is expected to reach retailers by late March or early April.
Under a new regulation, the government must repurchase an equivalent amount of rice within a year to avoid long-term market disruptions.