Poultry trade from the US to Japan growing
The US-Japan Trade Agreement entered its 5th year on 1 April 2023, and in 2022, the US exported US$75 million worth of poultry and eggs products to Japan, making Japan its #14 overseas market.
Poultry meat consumption has risen steadily in Japan over the past several decades. Japan imports around 40% of its chicken meat supply, the majority of which is raw and processed products from low-cost suppliers in Brazil, Thailand, and China. The country is also a major importer of frozen chicken legs, and in 2022, the US accounted for 1% of Japan’s poultry imports and 24% of its egg imports.
Japan’s turkey market has doubled
Japan’s market for turkey, though small, has doubled in size over the past 5 years and continues to report rapid growth. The US is the dominant supplier of turkey meat to Japan.
The country is also a major importer of egg ingredient products for further processing into mayonnaise and other prepared food items.
Avian influenza
On 1 April 2023, US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, together with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, have agreed to lower highly-pathogenic avian influenza-related trade restrictions on US poultry products exported to Japan. Bans on exports from affected zones are now eligible to have restrictions lifted 28 days post cleaning and disinfection (down from 90 days).
![Birthe Steenberg, AVEC’s Secretary General: “Our [poultry] sector operates under the highest standards of animal welfare, biosecurity and sustainability in the world. Photo: Canva](https://www.poultryworld.net/app/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-79-389x260.jpeg)
