Japan: Malt imports up 2.7% in 2023

In 2023, Japan’s overseas purchases of malt increased by 2.7% to 472 thousand tonnes, rising for the second consecutive year after five years of decline. Over the period under review, imports, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern, IndexBox reported on December 1.

The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 when imports increased by 19% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at 517 thousand tonnes in 2016; however, from 2017 to 2023, imports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, malt imports surged to $381 mln (IndexBox estimates) in 2023. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +1.2% over the period from 2013 to 2023; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.