Japan’s agricultural and marine exports increased 22.4% in 2013 over 2012 to reach ¥550.6 billion (US$5.4 billion) breaking the previous record set in 1984 of ¥532.7 billion. This is the first increase recorded since the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster suffered by the country in 2011. The highest value item exported was scallops which more than doubled to a value of ¥39.8 billion. Exports of apples were also noteworthy, increasing more than two fold to a value of ¥7.2 billion. The rise is being credited with the popularity of Japanese products in Southeast Asia and a weaker yen. The Japanese government has set a goal of increasing agricultural and marine exports to a value of ¥500 billion by 2020 through increasing exports of processed food, condiments and confectionaries to Russia and Southeast Asia and by increasing exports of Japanese rice and sake.
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