Japan to Auction Reserve Rice Next Week

TOKYO, 3rd March 2025 (BSS/XINHUA) – Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced on Monday that it will conduct an auction for government reserve rice starting on 10th March, targeting major rice wholesalers.

The initial auction will offer 150,000 tonnes of rice, marking the first such move aimed at stabilising market distribution.

Following distribution to wholesalers, the rice is expected to appear on store shelves by late March.

In total, the Japanese government plans to release 210,000 tonnes of its rice reserves into the market to help ease the impact of soaring rice prices, which have been putting pressure on household budgets.

Supplementary Information:
This decision comes amid growing concerns over rising food costs in Japan, particularly for essential staples like rice. The Japanese government’s intervention in the rice market is seen as part of broader efforts to control inflation and ensure food security, which is becoming an increasing challenge due to global supply chain disruptions and domestic production issues.