Sector Trend Analysis – Trade Overview – Japan

Note: This report includes forecasting data that is based on baseline historical data.

Executive summary

Global agri-food and seafood imports reached Can$2,873.2 billion in 2024, which grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% since 2020. Japan ranked as the 7th largest importer, accounting for an import of Can$103.0 billion at a 3.6% market share and a CAGR of 1.9% in 2024. Canada was the 7th largest importer (Can$75.2 billion 2024) over the year, growing at a CAGR of 8.8% (2020 to 2024).

In 2024, Top suppliers to Japan were the United States by a market share of 18.4%, followed by China (12.5%), Australia (6.6%), Thailand (6.2%), and Brazil (5.3%) - with Canada ranking as the 5th largest supplier (5.2%) in 2024.

In 2024, In 2024, Japan's leading import agri-food and seafood commodities included maize valued at Can$5.4 billion at a market share of 5.2% in 2024, followed by frozen meat of swine at Can$3.5 billion (3.4%), meat or offal of fowls of the species at Can$3.1 billion (3.0%), soya beans, whether or not broken at Can$2.6 billion (2.5%), and fresh or chilled meat of swine with bone in at Can$2.4 billion (2.3%). Imports of coffee grew the most by a CAGR of 11.5% (2020 to 2024).

The largest commodities supplied by Canada were fresh or chilled meat of swine valued at Can$1.2 billion at a Canadian market share of 21.9%, followed by wheat and meslin at Can$798.8 million (14.9%), low erucic acid rape or colza seeds at Can$718.3 million (13.4%), soya beans, whether or not broken at Can$392.9 million (7.3%), and frozen meat of swine with bone in at Can$272.7 million (5.1%) in 2024. The top 10 agri-food and seafood products supplied to Japan, accounting for a market share of 76.1%.

In 2024, Canada's reported agri-food and seafood exports to Japan totaled Can$4.8 billion, reflecting a CAGR of −0.1% since 2020. Alberta supplied the most at a market share of 28.7%, followed by leading provinces such as Manitoba (19.3%), Saskatchewan (18.8%), Ontario (12.8%), Québec (11.6%), British Colombia (5.4%), and Nova Scotia (1.5%). Between the review period (2020 to 2024), the provinces showing the highest growth in exports to Japan were British Columbia (CAGR: 9.1%), Ontario (7.5%), and Alberta (2.0%).

 

Global trade overview of agri-food and seafood

Global agri-food and seafood imports reached Can$103.0 billion in 2024, which grew at a CAGR of 6.7% since 2020. Japan ranked as the 7th largest importer, accounting for an import of Can$103.0 billion at a 3.6% market share and a CAGR of 1.9% in 2024. Canada was the 7th largest importer (Can$75.2 billion 2024) over the year, growing at a CAGR of 8.8% (2020 to 2024).

Top 20 global agri-food and seafood import markets in 2024 (Can$ billion)
Market 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CAGR* % 2020-2024 Market share % in 2024

Total - world

2,220.5

2,444.0

2,830.2

2,899.4

2,873.2

6.7

100.0

1. United States

231.2

257.3

308.8

306.7

336.3

9.8

11.7

2. China

228.9

274.8

305.9

315.0

294.9

6.5

10.3

3. Germany

147.8

153.2

169.1

183.5

198.2

7.6

6.9

4. Netherlands

102.9

109.5

123.9

129.2

132.0

6.4

4.6

5. United Kingdom

90.5

85.6

102.8

112.8

122.4

7.8

4.3

6. France

86.9

93.2

103.2

112.9

117.7

7.9

4.1

7. Japan

95.7

97.1

110.1

105.1

103.0

1.9

3.6

8. Italy

66.9

72.6

85.3

95.1

93.8

12.4

3.3

9. Spain

54.8

61.7

74.8

81.6

83.8

11.2

2.9

10. Canada

53.7

57.1

67.3

68.9

75.2

8.8

2.6

11. Belgium

55.6

59.9

65.9

70.6

71.4

6.5

2.5

12. Mexico

36.1

45.6

57.2

59.4

63.5

15.2

2.2

13. South Korea

44.9

50.2

60.9

57.9

57.1

6.2

2.0

14. Poland

35.2

37.3

44.9

49.4

53.7

11.1

1.9

15. Viet-Nam

30.1

35.1

50.8

47.7

48.4

12.6

1.7

16. India

29.0

38.2

48.5

45.6

47.9

16.3

1.7

17. Indonesia

26.3

31.1

37.4

38.0

40.9

11.7

1.4

18. Malaysia

23.1

26.4

31.3

29.9

34.6

10.6

1.2

19. Saudi Arabia

28.1

27.5

36.9

36.9

32.7

9.5

1.1

20. Hong Kong

33.8

34.1

31.0

32.5

32.6

−0.9

1.1

Subtotal - top 20 importers

1,501.5

1,647.5

1,916.0

1,978.7

2,040.1

8.0

71.0

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

*CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

Japan'sagri-food and seafood import markets

Japan's agri-food and seafood imports increased to Can$103.0 billion from 2024, growing at a CAGR of 1.9% since 2020. Top suppliers to Japan were the United States by a market share of 18.4%, followed by China (12.5%), Australia (6.6%), Thailand (6.2%), and Brazil (5.3%) - with Canada ranking as the 6th largest supplier (5.2%) in 2024.

Top 5 suppliers of agri-food and seafood to Japan in 2024 (Can$ billion)

Description of this image follows.

Description of above image
Country 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

United States

18.7

20.3

22.8

19.1

18.9

China

11.5

11.3

12.4

12.4

12.9

Australia

5.2

5.6

7.4

6.9

6.8

Thailand

5.9

5.6

6.3

6.3

6.4

Brazil

4.6

4.0

6.0

7.2

5.4

Source: Global Trade Tracker 2025

Top 20 global suppliers of agri-food and seafood products to Japan in 2024 (Can$ million)
Market 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CAGR* % 2020-2024 Market share % in 2024

Total - world imports

95,682.1

97,108.4

110,119.5

105,106.3

103,008.8

1.9

100.0

1. United States

18,738.8

20,299.9

22,819.2

19,081.6

18,927.3

0.2

18.4

2. China

11,503.4

11,328.0

12,352.1

12,390.7

12,897.5

2.9

12.5

3. Australia

5,230.8

5,587.5

7,430.2

6,938.3

6,790.3

6.7

6.6

4. Thailand

5,903.6

5,570.1

6,305.6

6,321.6

6,360.4

1.9

6.2

5. Brazil

4,579.9

3,967.6

6,011.4

7,236.9

5,409.0

4.2

5.3

6. Canada

5,619.4

6,017.9

6,285.1

5,499.4

5,349.2

−1.2

5.2

7. South Korea

3,467.5

3,126.1

3,447.9

3,395.5

3,472.0

0.0

3.4

8. Italy

3,846.6

4,187.0

3,185.3

2,805.7

3,468.7

−2.6

3.4

9. Indonesia

2,139.4

2,270.5

2,806.1

2,994.4

3,184.8

10.5

3.1

10. Viet-Nam

2,237.2

2,133.2

2,635.3

2,653.6

2,892.1

6.6

2.8

11. Chile

2,661.6

2,403.1

2,746.6

2,725.8

2,792.8

1.2

2.7

12. France

2,443.8

2,509.9

2,746.4

2,891.6

2,713.6

2.7

2.6

13. New Zealand

2,333.7

2,286.8

2,436.5

2,430.8

2,397.5

0.7

2.3

14. Malaysia

1,221.4

1,323.6

1,920.7

1,850.6

2,129.4

14.9

2.1

15. Spain

1,499.7

1,577.6

1,926.7

1,918.3

2,071.9

8.4

2.0

16. Mexico

1,728.6

1,714.1

1,763.1

1,746.5

1,641.0

−1.3

1.6

17. Philippines

1,529.9

1,513.0

1,466.2

1,546.3

1,541.8

0.2

1.5

18. Russia

1,356.4

1,639.0

1,589.4

1,304.1

1,205.5

−2.9

1.2

19. Norway

1,210.4

1,304.9

1,335.7

1,287.5

1,193.5

−0.4

1.2

20. India

960.9

1,031.4

1,128.6

1,137.6

1,076.1

2.9

1.0

Subtotal - top 20 suppliers

80,213.0

81,791.2

92,338.1

88,156.8

87,505.8

2.9

85.0

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

*CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

In 2024, Japan's leading import agri-food and seafood commodities included maize valued at Can$5.4 billion at a market share of 5.2% in 2024, followed by frozen meat of swine at Can$3.5 billion (3.4%), meat or offal of fowls of the species at Can$3.1 billion (3.0%), soya beans, whether or not broken at Can$2.6 billion (2.5%), and fresh or chilled meat of swine with bone in at Can$2.4 billion (2.3%). Imports of coffee grew the most by a CAGR of 11.5% (2020 to 2024).

Japan's top 5 agri-food and seafood from the world in 2024 (Can$ billion)

Description of this image follows.

Description of above image
Product 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Maize (excludes seed for sowing)

4.4

5.9

7.5

6.6

5.4

Frozen meat of swine, with bone in

3.2

2.9

3.1

2.9

3.5

Meat or offal of fowls of the species 

3.0

2.8

3.2

3.0

3.1

Soya beans, whether or not broken (excludes seed for sowing)

2.0

2.6

3.3

3.0

2.6

Fresh or chilled meat of swine with bone in)

2.8

2.6

2.4

2.4

2.4

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

Top 20 agri-food and seafood imports to Japan in 2024, by HS code (Can$ million)
HS code Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CAGR* % 2020-2024 Market share % in 2024

Total - agri-food and seafood

95,680.9

97,108.6

110,119.4

105,107.3

103,008.8

1.9

100.0

100590

Maize (excluding seed for sowing)

4,403.9

5,903.9

7,519.8

6,612.7

5,366.2

5.1

5.2

240411

Products containing tobacco or reconstituted tobacco, intended for inhalation without combustion

   

3,854.2

4,072.7

4,506.2

8.1

4.4

020329

Frozen meat of swine, with bone in

3,186.5

2,922.9

3,073.4

2,930.1

3,460.4

2.1

3.4

160232

Meat or offal of fowls of the species

2,991.6

2,816.8

3,213.8

3,009.1

3,117.9

1.0

3.0

120190

Soya beans, whether or not broken (excluding seed for sowing)

2,006.4

2,589.6

3,323.7

2,993.1

2,592.8

6.6

2.5

020319

Fresh or chilled meat of swine with bone in

2,776.4

2,627.3

2,396.9

2,361.2

2,363.6

−3.9

2.3

100199

Wheat and meslin (excluding seed for sowing, and durum wheat)

1,951.1

2,130.7

3,095.9

2,483.2

2,203.0

3.1

2.1

090111

Coffee (excluding roasted and decaffeinated)

1,410.2

1,480.8

2,104.8

1,909.7

2,180.9

11.5

2.1

020130

Fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless

2,619.8

2,736.8

2,378.8

2,093.5

2,154.3

−4.8

2.1

020230

Frozen, boneless meat of bovine animals

1,847.7

1,875.2

2,432.4

1,827.0

2,099.8

3.3

2.0

020714

Frozen cuts and edible offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus

1,435.1

1,451.0

1,934.0

1,801.2

1,919.1

7.5

1.9

030617

Frozen shrimps and prawns, even smoked, whether in shell or not, i

1,773.1

1,829.5

1,933.1

1,592.5

1,688.8

−1.2

1.6

120510

Low erucic acid rape or colza seeds

1,296.8

2,003.7

2,545.8

1,857.9

1,525.5

4.1

1.5

240220

Cigarettes, containing tobacco

2,685.9

2,237.6

2,047.5

1,701.6

1,485.9

−13.8

1.4

080390

Fresh or dried bananas (excluding plantains)

1,326.9

1,225.8

1,155.8

1,288.1

1,329.8

0.1

1.3

220421

Wine of fresh grapes,

1,267.6

1,234.3

1,371.6

1,318.9

1,275.3

0.2

1.2

230400

Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil

1,069.8

1,176.3

1,243.6

1,350.3

1,174.1

2.4

1.1

210690

Food preparations, nowhere else specified

1,237.8

1,187.9

1,278.2

1,151.0

1,122.1

−2.4

1.1

040690

Cheese

1,084.5

1,030.1

1,179.5

1,282.5

1,105.0

0.5

1.1

230910

Dog or cat food, put up for retail sale

904.7

879.4

979.6

978.5

1,024.0

3.2

1.0

Subtotal - top 20 imports

37,275.8

39,339.6

49,062.4

44,614.8

43,694.3

3.2

42.4

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

*CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

The United States, China, Australia, Brazil, and Vietnam are the leading suppliers in total agri-food and seafood to Japan.

Japan's top-20 agri-food and seafood imports and supplying countries in 2024 (Can$ million)
HS code Description Import value Top suppliers and market share % Canada's share %
1 2 3

Total - agri-food and seafood

103,008.8

United States: 18.4

China: 12.5

Australia: 6.6

5.2

100590

Maize (excluding seed for sowing)

5,366.2

United States: 77.0

Brazil: 20.5

Argentina: 1.2

0

240411

Products containing tobacco or reconstituted tobacco, intended for inhalation without combustion

4,506.2

Italy: 40.3

South Korea: 20.7

Romania: 18.4

0

020329

Frozen meat of swine, with bone in

3,460.4

Spain: 28.97

Mexico: 12.5

United States: 12.4

7.9

160232

Meat or offal of fowls of the species

3,117.9

Thailand: 63.98

China: 34.3

Vietnam: 1.4

0

120190

Soya beans, whether or not broken (excluding seed for sowing)

2,592.8

United States.: 65.3

Brazil: 18.5

Canada: 15.2

15.2

020319

Fresh or chilled meat of swine with bone in)

2,363.6

Canada: 49.5

United States: 48.6

Mexico: 11.8

49.5

100199

Wheat and meslin (excluding seed for sowing, and durum wheat)

2,203.0

United States.: 40.5

Canada: 36.3

Australia: 22.99

36.3

090111

Coffee (excluding roasted and decaffeinated)

2,180.9

Brazil: 33.1

Vietnam: 22.0

Columbia: 11.6

0

020130

Fresh or chilled bovine meat, boneless

2,154.3

Australia: 48.97

United States: 41.8

Nea Zealand: 4.6

2.95

020230

Frozen, boneless meat of bovine animals

2,099.8

Australia: 41.2

United States: 33.4

Canada: 9.0

9.0

020714

Frozen cuts and edible offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus

1,919.1

Brazil: 63.3

Thailand: 35.4

United States: 1.2

4.6

030617

Frozen shrimps and prawns, even smoked, whether in shell or not

1,688.8

India: 23.2

Vietnam: 20.3

Indonesia: 17.9

0

120510

Low erucic acid rape or colza seeds

1,525.5

Australia: 52.9

Canada: 47.1

0

47.1

240220

Cigarettes, containing tobacco

1,485.9

Indonesia: 39.87

South Korea: 27.99

Serbia: 23.5

0

080390

Fresh or dried bananas (excluding plantains)

1,329.8

Philippines: 76.7

Ecuador: 8.4

Mexicco: 6.4

0.6

220421

Wine of fresh grapes,

1,275.3

France: 43.8

Italy: 17.6

Chile: 11.9

0.05

230400

Oilcake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil

1,174.1

China: 61.4

Brazil: 15.3

United States: 14.2

0.08

210690

Food preparations, nowhere else specified

1,122.1

United States.: 17.9

South Korea: 15.9

China: 0.7

0.06

040690

Cheese

1,105.0

New Zealand: 24.0

Australia: 16.3

United States: 14.7

0

230910

Dog or cat food, put up for retail sale

1,024.0

Thailand: 41.4

China: 15.3

South Korea: 10

3.4

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

Canada's performance

In 2024, Japan's reported total agri-food and seafood imports from Canada totaled Can$5.3 billion, which declines at a CAGR of −1.2% from 2020 to 2024. The largest commodities supplied by Canada were fresh or meat of swine valued at Can$1.2 billion at a Canadian market share of (21.9%), followed by wheat and meslin at Can$798.8 million (14.9%), low erucic acid rape or colza seeds at Can$718.3 million (13.4%), soya beans, whether or not broken at Can$392.9 million (7.3%), and frozen meat of swine with bone in at Can$272.7 million (5.1%) in 2024. The top 10 agri-food and seafood products supplied to Japan, accounting for a market share of 76.1%.

Japan's top 5 imports of agrifood and seafood from Canada in 2024 (Can$ million)

Description of this image follows.

Description of above image
Product 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Fresh or chilled pork

1,333.2

1,232.0

1,072.7

1,071.8

1,170.8

Wheat and meslin

653.3

697.4

1,038.30

879.3

798.8

Canola seeds

1,255.6

1,783.4

1,483.6

974.9

718.3

Soya beans

278.8

257.2

355.9

398.4

392.9

Frozen bone-in pork

220.1

194.3

164.1

207.8

272.7

Source: Global Trade Tracker 2025

Japan's top 10agri-food and seafood imports from Canada in 2024 (Can$ million)
HS code Description 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CAGR* % 2020-2024 Market share % in 2024

Total - agri-food and seafood

5,619.3

6,017.8

6,284.4

5,498.9

5,349.1

−1.2

100.0

020319

Fresh or chilled meat of swine

1,333.2

1,232.0

1,072.7

1,071.8

1,170.8

−3.2

21.9

100199

Wheat and meslin (excluding seed for sowing, and durum wheat)

653.3

697.4

1,038.3

879.3

798.8

5.2

14.9

120510

Low erucic acid rape or colza seeds

1,255.6

1,783.4

1,483.6

974.9

718.3

−13.0

13.4

120190

Soya beans, whether or not broken (excluding seed for sowing)

278.8

257.2

355.9

398.4

392.9

9.0

7.3

020329

Frozen meat of swine with bone in

220.1

194.3

164.1

207.8

272.7

5.5

5.1

020230

Frozen, boneless meat of bovine animals

139.3

196.4

257.4

198.5

189.6

8.0

3.5

100390

Barley (excluding seed for sowing)

193.7

23.8

34.2

24.8

171.0

−3.1

3.2

030614

Frozen crabs, even smoked,

109.2

171.7

161.1

97.4

129.8

4.4

2.4

100119

Durum wheat (excluding seed for sowing)

95.4

97.3

163.5

131.8

115.6

4.9

2.2

110710

Malt (excluding roasted)

94.5

72.3

100.2

138.1

111.6

4.3

2.1

Subtotal - top 10 imports

4,373.1

4,725.8

4,831.0

4,122.8

4,071.1

−1.8

76.1

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

*CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

In 2024, Canada's reported agri-food and seafood exports to Japan totaled Can$4.9 billion, reflecting a CAGR of −0.1% since 2020. Alberta supplied the most at a market share of 28.7%, followed by leading provinces such as Manitoba (19.3%), Saskatchewan (18.8%), Ontario (12.8%), Québec (11.6%), British Colombia (5.4%), and Nova Scotia (1.5%). Between the review period (2020 to 2024), the provinces showing the highest growth in exports to Japan were British Columbia (CAGR: 9.1%), Ontario (7.5%), and Alberta (2.0%); while declines occurred from Saskatchewan (−7.1%), Newfoundland and Labrador (−4.9%), and the Manitoba (−1.7%).

Provincial breakdown of Canada's agri-food and seafood exports to Japan (Can$ million)
Province 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 CAGR* % 2020-2024 Market share % in 2024

Total - exports from Canada

4,895.0

5,210.0

5,384.3

4,398.9

4,885.2

−0.1

100.0

Alberta

1,297.2

1,461.1

1,733.0

1,272.4

1,402.2

2.0

28.7

Manitoba

1,007.4

1,013.1

912.0

816.1

942.0

−1.7

19.3

Saskatchewan

1,232.1

1,327.2

1,204.0

987.3

916.1

−7.1

18.8

Ontario

470.3

496.3

652.7

599.1

627.1

7.5

12.8

Quebec

530.5

496.8

443.5

356.3

564.5

1.6

11.6

British Columbia

186.4

220.5

246.5

207.3

263.6

9.1

5.4

Nova Scotia

69.6

91.2

85.7

78.1

73.6

1.4

1.5

New Brunswick

51.2

56.6

72.0

51.9

53.5

1.1

1.1

Newfoundland and Labrador

37.6

36.3

22.7

14.0

30.7

−4.9

0.6

Prince Edward Island

12.7

10.9

12.2

16.4

11.9

−1.6

0.2

Yukon

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0

0.0

Source: Global Trade Tracker, 2025

*CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate

For more information

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service:

International Trade Commissioners can provide Canadian industry with on-the-ground expertise regarding market potential, current conditions and local business contacts, and are an excellent point of contact for export advice.

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More on Canada's agriculture and agri-food sectors:

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Information on the agriculture industry by sector. Data on international markets. Initiatives to support awareness of the industry in Canada. How the department engages with the industry.

Resources

  • Global Trade Tracker, 2025

Sector Trend Analysis – Trade Overview – Japan
Global Analysis Report

Prepared by: Hongli Wang, Senior Market Analyst

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (2025).

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