TOKYO, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Demand for rice in Japan is estimated to rise slightly to 7.11 million tons in the year through June 2026, according to the agriculture ministry.
The 2025 staple rice production is expected to see a significant increase to 7.45 million tons, boosted by expanded planting in response to shortages, an estimate from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries showed Friday.
Meanwhile, the private sector's rice inventory is forecast to reach nearly 2.3 million tons by the end of June next year, an unusually high level that could approach the record stockpile that was built up in 2015.
For the key one-year estimate, the ministry's food council subgroup, which used to make staple rice demand projections in view of falling population and increased bread consumption, took into account for the first time increasing demand from foreign tourists and households. ■