Poultry trade from the US to Japan growing

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 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.

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).