Editorial: Exports to Japan
Georgius Gotsis Fontes
Veggies From México CEO
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With over 120 million inhabitants, due to its island nature and strong economy, Japan has always been an attractive country for global farm exports. Mexico exports over $6 billion dollars in total to Japan for all products. From these, only $81 million dollars are in vegetables alone, and $225 million dollars in fruits. It is worth mentioning that Japan imports $2.45 billion dollars of vegetables and $3.15 billion dollars of fruits from the world, which presents a real opportunity to increase our fresh produce exports to the land of the rising sun. The main vegetables that this country imports from the world are onions, sweet corn, garlic, peppers, and squash; and the fruits are bananas, kiwis, almonds, avocados, and pineapples.
From Mexico, they receive mainly in vegetables: $30 million dollars for squash (kabocha), $30 million dollars for asparagus, and from there it falls steeply to $2 million dollars for tomatoes. In the case of fruit, our country provides them with $120 million dollars in avocados, $62 million dollars in bananas, $14 million dollars in berries, $10 million dollars in lemons, $8 million dollars in grapes, $8 million dollars in mangoes, and $3 million dollars in melons.
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As with everything, if we are already doing well with the produce we already export, the first challenge would be to increase volume. In the case of tomatoes, it took us time to prove to the Japanese authorities that the plant and its fruits are not attacked by blue mold, an argument that for decades prevented Mexican tomatoes from reaching this country. And yet, we have barely boosted our exports, mainly due to logistical issues, since, as a perishable product with a relatively short shelf life, we had to fly them at a very high cost.
It is also important to analyze what is Japan importing from the world, and what we produce as a country, but not significantly participating in its market. For example: garlic, sweet corn, peppers, and pineapples.
And it is in bell peppers where we find the greatest opportunity. This country has imported between $80 million and $100 million dollars in recent years. Korea, New Zealand, and even the Netherlands and Canada have been the suppliers. And Mexico? Like tomatoes, Japan has imposed a phytosanitary measure to protect its crops from blue mold since 1945. Just like with tomatoes, for years we have worked hand in hand with public and private institutions such as CIAD, CIDH, AMHPAC, among others, to demonstrate that Mexican bell peppers are not affected by this pathogen.
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Fortunately, last year (2024), after lots of work and a visit to our country by Japanese phytosanitary authorities, it was determined that our bell peppers are indeed safe enough to be exported. However, at this time, following the protocols established by the Japanese authorities, this resolution will be published in its Official Gazette. Once this happens, we will be fully able to ship our first green, red, orange, and yellow bell peppers for the delight of our Japanese friends.
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