The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently updated data on the export of rice and its derivatives. Among the most relevant data the decrease in the internal demand for rice, which is decreasing each year by about 8 tons. On the contrary, exports of rice and its derivatives (such as Sake and rice crackers) are increasing every year. 

In 2017 the export of rice for commercial purposes was 11,841 tons, with an increase of 19% over the previous year, for a turnover of 3,200 million yen (equal to about 24,214,000 euros), which is equivalent to an 18% increase. The export of rice crackers was 3,849 tons (+ 8% compared to 2016) with 4,200 million yen (about 31 million euros, + 10%). The Sake recorded an export of 23,482 kiloliters (kl) equal to + 19%, with an income of 18,700 million yen (about 141 million euro with a + 20%).
The countries that most import rice foods from Japan are Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA, but the Ministry intends to expand or increase this export to the EU, China, Russia, Brazil and Australia.

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries