Japan rice glut sends prices tumbling 40%, below production cost

Agriculture

Anticipated bumper crop in Niigata seen swelling already high inventories

Japan’s private rice inventories hit a record high 2.43 million tons at the end of June, up 57% year-on-year. (Photo by Hiroki Masuda)

Nikkei staff writers

August 19, 2026 06:42 JST

TOKYO — The agricultural organization covering Japan’s largest rice-growing region will pay roughly 40% less for this year’s rice harvest than last year’s amid a record surplus, bringing the price below the cost of production.