THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY

USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT

POLICY

Voluntary - Public

Date: 10/27/2017
GAIN Report Number: JA7134

Japan
Post: Tokyo

Japan Potato Annual 2017

Report Categories:
Agricultural Situation
Potatoes and Potato Products
Approved By:
Jess K. Paulson
Prepared By:
Tomohiro Kurai

Report Highlights:
After storms decimated Japanese potato production in marketing year (MY) 2016/17, FAS/Tokyo
forecasts a substantial recovery of Japanese potato production in MY 2017/18 to 2.315 million metric
tons (MT), largely restoring production to pre-typhoon levels. Strong growth in Japan’s fast food and
restaurant sectors drove increased demand for frozen potato products such as french fries. Accordingly,
FAS/Tokyo forecasts a six percent increase in Japan’s import and consumption of frozen potato
products in MY 2017/18 (to 385,000 MT).

Keywords: JA7134, Japan, potato, french fries, chips

General Information:

Fresh Potatoes:

PS&D

Fresh Potatoes - Japan MY 2015/2016 MY 2016/2017 MY 2017/2018** Source: Ministry of

Market Begin Year August 2015 August 2016 August 2017 Agriculture,
Forestry and
Area Planted (ha) 77,330 77,200 76,000 Fisheries, Global
Total Supply (MT) 2,406,800 2,199,000 2,350,000 Trade Atlas
Note: Asterisk
Production (MT) 2,378,000 2,159,600 2,315,000 indicates
Import 28,800 39,400 35,000 FAS/Tokyo
estimates. Double
Total Consumption (MT) 2,406,800 2,199,000 2,350,000 asterisk indicates
Table Potatoes (MT) 636,000* 580,000* 600,000 FAS/Tokyo
forecasts.
Processed potato products 590,000* 530,000* 620,000
(MT)
Potato starch (MT) 846,000* 700,000* 800,000
Others (MT) 334,800* 389,000* 330,000 Planted Area
and Production
Export 0 0 0

Hokkaido, located 600 miles north of Tokyo, is Japan’s major producing region for fresh potatoes, and
its share accounts for about 80 percent of domestic production. The potatoes produced in Hokkaido are
stored and distributed all over Japan until the harvest the following year. Kyushu, the southern-most of
Japan’s four main islands, is the second leading production region, but its share is only about eight
percent. However, Kyushu’s warmer weather allows its farmers a second harvest in the spring, and
these potatoes are considered fresher and provide Kyushu farmers with extra market value from their
"Shin Jaga" (meaning “New Potatoes”). Japan’s dependence on Hokkaido for domestic potato
production contributes to the instability in Japan’s supply chain, a risk that became apparent when
typhoons caused flooding in marketing year (MY; between August to July) 2016/17 (see JA6033 and
JA6041 for more details).

Japan’s fresh potato planted area decreased marginally to 77,200 hectares (ha) in MY 2016/17 compared
to the previous MY. Structural problems in Japan’s agriculture, such as lack of successors, labor market
constraints, and the aging of Japan’s population continued to decrease planted area for potatoes
marginally. However, the typhoons that reached Hokkaido in the summer of 2016 reduced Japan’s
potato production 9.2 percent to approximately 2.16 million MT.

The government of Japan (GOJ) reported that 9,960 ha of Hokkaido’s potato fields (approximately 20
percent) were damaged in MY 2016/17. The GOJ and local governments have contributed to efforts to
rebuild, yet some areas have not recovered. In large part, due to extensive media coverage of potato
chip shortages in spring and summer 2017 (see JA7052 more details), the GOJ encouraged farmers to
plant chipping potatoes on land that had yet to fully recover, as well as on land that would have grown
fresh table potatoes. Moreover, as the 2016 typhoons also damaged Japan’s seed potato production,
farmers were encouraged to stretch their available seed potatoes by planting portions smaller pieces (i.e.,
below the recommended minimum of 40 grams). These efforts, however, were insufficient to restore
planted area to pre-storm levels. Accordingly, FAS/Tokyo estimates that Japan’s potato area decreased
1.6 percent to 76,000 ha in MY 2017/18.

Despite a reduced planted area in MY 2017/18, FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan’s fresh potato production to
recover substantially to 2.315 million MT, an increase of 7.2 percent from MY 2016/17, but 2.7 percent
less than MY 2015/16. Much of the recovery can be attributed to the planting of off-standard seed
potatoes, which allowed farmers to stretch the available seed potatoes. Japanese farmers were
concerned that these seed potatoes would perform poorly, especially during their initial growth.
However, favorable weather through July contributed to tuber development, while cloudy weather in
August slowed growth, resulting in a reduced yield of smaller potatoes that prevented total production in
MY 2017/18 from fully recovering to pre-MY 2016/17 levels.

Consumption

Japanese consumption of fresh potatoes has been changing over the years, shifting from fresh table
potatoes to processed potato products (see Chart 1). Demand for processing potatoes (particularly
chipping potatoes) has been increasing, while demand for table potatoes and potato starch has been on a
continuous decline since 2012. However, reduced production and supply shortages decreased the
consumption of each category in MY 2016/17. Consumption of table potatoes fell 9 percent, in part
because market prices were considerably higher than normal throughout the MY (see Chart 2). Market
prices of fresh potatoes in Tokyo remained high (up 90 percent compared to the previous MY) until a
strong harvest of spring potatoes came into the market in March. Additionally, consumption of
processing potatoes declined 10 percent to 530,000 MT in MY 2016/17 given the supply limitations.
The lack of chipping potatoes caused major potato chip companies to suspend or terminate a number of
their products (see JA7052 more details). Overall, Japan’s fresh potato consumption in MY 2016/17
was approximately 2.2 million MT, 8.7 percent lower than in MY 2015/16.

MY 2016/17 was an extraordinary year that does not reflect the long-term demand for processed potato
products. The restaurant and ready-made food sectors have been expanding year on year, and demand
for potato chips continues to steadily grow. The consumption of table and starch potatoes, however, is
in decline at a pace that exceeds the increase in demand for processing potatoes. The consumption of
fresh potatoes as a whole is therefore decreasing slightly. FAS/Tokyo forecasts that Japan’s fresh potato
consumption in MY 2017/18 will significantly recover (to 2.35 million MT), although this level is still
2.5 percent lower than in MY 2015/16.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Source: Tokyo Central Wholesale Market

Trade

The GOJ restricts the import of fresh potatoes to designated production areas, during limited portions of
the year, and to only two approved ports (see “Policy” section). However, the GOJ permitted the import
of fresh potatoes five weeks earlier in MY 2016/17 to compensate, in part, for the shortage. As a result,
fresh potato imports in MY 2016/17 rose to 39,400 MT, an increase of 36.8 percent compared to the
previous MY. Although demand for chipping potatoes is increasing annually, FAS/Tokyo notes that
increased import volume in MY 2016/17 was temporary due to the domestic shortage. Therefore,
FAS/Tokyo forecasts fresh potato imports to total 35,000 MT in MY 2017/18, 11.2 percent lower than
MY 2016/17, but 21.5 percent higher than in MY 2015/16 (and the second highest on record after MY
2016/17).

Policy

Eligible States: Japan limits the import of U.S. fresh potatoes to chip manufacturing. Under the current
protocol, 16 U.S. states are eligible to ship potatoes to Japan under certain conditions, and are limited to
enter the market between February and July. The eligible states are: Arizona, California, Colorado,
Florida, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,
Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Potatoes from Idaho were among those originally permitted when the market was opened in 2006.
Market access for Idaho potatoes was suspended months later following the discovery of pale cyst
nematode (PCN). On September 12, 2017, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(MAFF) lifted the suspension on the import of fresh chipping potatoes from all counties in Idaho except
for Bingham and Bonneville counties, which remain under quarantine for PCN.

Shipping season: Starting in 2012, MAFF extended the shipping season to include the month of July.
As a result, the United States exports potatoes to Japan from February through July.
Overland transportation: According to the 2006 import protocol, MAFF did not allow overland
transportation of U.S. potatoes from the port to the chipping facilities due to phytosanitary concerns. As
a result, only chipping facilities located in the port were allowed to request MAFF approval to import
and process U.S. potatoes in Kagoshima and Hiroshima. Unlike the Hiroshima Port, the Kagoshima
Port (where the most recently approved facility is located) is a local port that cannot handle large-size
vessels. Consequently, U.S. potatoes needed to be loaded onto lighter coastal vessels at the nearest port
in Shibushi, which is approximately 100 kilometers east of Kagoshima. As the smaller vessels are not
equipped to keep the cargo refrigerated, the eight to nine hour travel time to Kagoshima can cause
premature sprouting and adversely affect the quality of the potatoes. Additionally, Japanese chipping
manufacturers found this means of transportation extremely inefficient and costly. Thus, chipping
manufacturers requested MAFF to allow overland transportation by truck from the Shibushi port directly
to the chipping facility. The Shibushi port has the capacity to handle containerized cargo and is
equipped with electricity, which allows the potatoes to remain refrigerated. In addition, the shorter
overland travel time would reduce the risk of quality deterioration.

In March 2015, MAFF completed its technical review and approved overland transportation subject to
the following condition: ‘Overland transportation is allowed only for approved heat processing facility
located in port area where port facilities are limited to receive lighters and where large size vessels are
unable to berth, therefore, it is considered that importing U.S. potatoes directly from ocean going vessels
is impossible.’ This condition applies to the overland transportation between Shibushi and Kagoshima,
since the Kagoshima Port facilities are insufficient to receive ocean going vessels at their berths.

Proposed 2018 budget to increase potato production: On August 31, 2017, MAFF announced a
budget request of 3 billion Japanese Yen (approximately $27 million) for Japanese fiscal year 2018
(April 1 to March 31). MAFF explained that the purpose of this proposed budget is to: 1) increase
production of seed potatoes; 2) increase production of processing potatoes; and 3) improve the
environment for farmers to include potatoes in their crop rotation. To achieve these goals, MAFF’s
proposed supports are to be used to set up new farms (especially pest-free seed potatoes), a soil
improvement program, transition to pest-resistant varieties, and the introduction of more efficient heavy
machinery. MAFF has set benchmarks for this support at 1) a 10 percent increase in the production of
seed potatoes to 160,000 MT by 2021 (compared to 145,000 MT in 2016); and 2) a 30 percent increase
in the production of processing potatoes to 770,000 MT by 2021 (compared to 590,000 MT in 2016).
Frozen Potato Products

PS&D

Frozen Potatoes - Japan MY 2015/2016 MY 2016/2017* MY 2017/2018* Source: Ministry of

Market Begin Year August 2015 August 2016 August 2017 Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, Global Trade Atlas,
Production (MT) 33,510 27,912 35,000 and the Japan Frozen Food
Import (MT) 338,927 369,180 385,000 Association
Asterisk indicates FAS/Tokyo
Total Supply (MT) 372,437 397,092 420,000 forecast.
Domestic Consumption 372,437 397,092 420,000
Export 0 0 0
Production
Total Distribution (MT) 372,437 397,092 420,000
Japan’s production of
frozen potato products was constrained in MY 2016/17 by reduced domestic supplies caused by a series
of typhoons. Domestic production was reduced 16.4 percent from the previous MY to 27,912 MT. This
volume is less than 10 percent of Japan’s domestic consumption of frozen potato products (397,092 MT
in MY 2016/17) where the leading product is french fries (see Chart 3). Only 3.5 percent of Japan’s
fresh potato production is used to make frozen potato products, 60 percent of which is used to make
potato croquette. The frozen potato product industry’s access to imported potato supplies (such as
dehydrated potato, potato flakes, mashed potatoes, and frozen whole potatoes) contributed to the
industry’s robust growth in MY 2016/17, leading to a 7.5 percent production increase (to 183,914 MT)
in frozen croquettes in 2016.

Considering the continued growth in demand for ready-made frozen potato products, FAS/Tokyo
expects Japan’s use of potatoes for frozen food production to exceed MY 2015/16 by 4.5 percent to
35,000 MT.

Consumption

Japan consumes frozen potato products largely as french fries, and therefore hamburger restaurants are
the largest retailers of frozen potato products. Accordingly, their sales are the most important factor in
determining the consumption of frozen potato products in Japan. In MY 2016/17, most of Japan’s
hamburger chains reported increased sales compared to the previous MY. In addition to hamburger
chains, “family restaurants”, diners, and even sushi restaurants served french fries as a side dish and
contributed to increased consumption (see “Market trends”). Given the growth in fast food and family
restaurant sales, Japan’s consumption of frozen potato products increased 6.6 percent to 397,092 MT in
MY 2016/17. FAS/Tokyo expects frozen potato consumption to continue to grow in MY 2017/18 and
forecasts another 5.8 percent increase to 420,000 MT.

According to the Japan Food Service Association, the number of fast food and family diner restaurants
increased 6.5 percent in 2016. Although these outlets are the leading retailers of frozen french fries,
other food establishments are also increasing their sales of french fries. One such example is conveyor-
belt sushi restaurants. With approximately 3,000 restaurants in Japan and a market size of 65 billion
Japanese Yen (approximately $5.9 billion), sushi restaurants represent an additional outlet for french
fries equivalent to 25 percent the size of the fast food industry. Another example is the sale of french
fries at convenience stores. Although some convenience stores were forced to source from Europe
during the West Coast port dispute, U.S. french fries are still the benchmark in Japan and U.S. potatoes
are gaining most of the growth in the market.

Source: Global Trade Atlas and Japan Frozen Food Association

Trade

Japan imports more than 90 percent of its frozen potato products. Total Japanese imports of frozen
potato products (including both HS 2004.10 and HS 0710.10) increased 8.9 percent to 369,180 MT in
MY 2016/17 over the previous MY. As domestic production is unlikely to keep pace with consumption,
FAS/Tokyo forecasts a further 4.3 percent increase in imported frozen potato products to 385,000 MT in
MY 2017/18.

French fries:
Japan imported 336,548 MT of french fries (HS 2004.10) in MY 2016/17, an increase of 7.4 percent
from MY 2015/16. Of Japan’s imported frozen potato products, 91 percent is frozen french fries. As
noted above, the retail of french fries is diversifying in the Japanese restaurant industry and contributes
to the expectation that consumer demand for french fries will continue to grow in the Japanese market in
MY 2017/18.

The United States is the leading supplier of frozen french fries to Japan, but the west coast port labor
dispute and past declines in fast food sales contributed to a drop in the U.S. market share in MY 2015/16
(from 79.6 percent in MY 2014/15 to 71 percent in MY 2015/16). However, U.S. french fry exports
increased 8.8 percent to 253,560 MT in MY 2016/17, capturing much of the recovery in french fry sales
and restoring U.S. market share to 75 percent. Competitors such as Belgium and Netherlands
maintained the same market share at approximately 15 percent combined.

Policy
There have been no changes in Japan’s policies for frozen potato products since the 2016 annual.
Tariffs on Potato and Potato Products

Product Tariff Line Current Tariff

Category
(HS Code) (Percent)
Seed Potatoes
3.0
0701.10.000
Fresh / Chilled
Other than Seed
4.3
0701.90.000
Potato Flour
20.0
1105.10.000
Potato Flakes
Flake / Mashed 20.0
1105.20.000
Mashed Potatoes
13.6
2005.20.100
Uncooked
8.5
0710.10.000
French Fries
8.5
2004.10.100
Frozen
Mashed Potatoes
13.6
2004.10.210
Other
9.0
2004.10.220
Dehydrated
Dried 12.8
0712.90.050
In airtight container
12.0
2005.20.210
Sugar added
Others 9.0
1905.90.314
Processed
Not sugar added
9.0
1905.90.323
Other
9.0
2005.20.220
Source: Japan Customs (last updated on May 16, 2017)
Note: All duties are charged on a CIF basis