Key Facts
• Ministry of Agriculture reported rice demand for the year ending June 2025.
• Actual demand reached 7.11 million tons, 380,000 tons higher than July 2024 projections.
• Rice prices surged after summer 2024, despite government claims of sufficient supply.
• This marks the second consecutive year of significant projection inaccuracies.
• Minister Koizumi stated that supply-demand forecasts will undergo further review.
• The Ministry is investigating causes behind the miscalculation.
Summary
The Ministry of Agriculture announced that rice demand for the year ending June 2025 reached 7.11 million tons, surpassing the July 2024 forecast by 380,000 tons. This discrepancy, the second in two years, has been linked to rising rice prices since summer 2024. Despite earlier assurances of adequate supply, critics argue the government’s projections failed to reflect actual demand. Minister Koizumi confirmed plans to reassess supply-demand forecasts, while the Ministry investigates the reasons behind the miscalculation.
