Japan’s mandarin imports doubled in 2010/11, according to a new report from the USDA, with big growth in the market presence of the US and Australia in particular.
The East Asian country’s fresh mandarin and tangerine imports hit 21,406 tonnes for the 12 months to September 2011, up from 10,797 tonnes for the same period a year before, the USDA Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report said.
A shortage of local Mikan mandarins, which are experiencing a steady decline in planted area and also hit their biannual ‘off’ year during the 2010/11 season, was credited as the cause of the import growth.
The US accounted for the majority of the increased volume, with a 93 per cent jump to 17,650 tonnes giving it a market share of 82 per cent.
Matching with Japan’s new role as Australia’s largest citrus export market, Australian mandarin imports jumped 136 per cent to 2,276 tonnes. New Zealand, Chilean and Taiwanese imports also grew over the period.
On the back of the increased presence, the report predicted the high quality of US Minneola tangerines and Australian Murcott mandarins, which account for the majority of their respective offerings, meant the imported mandarins would remain a key part of the Japanese citrus market.
Imports are expected to decline by about 12 per cent to 19,000 tonnes in 2011/12, the report added, because of Japanese Mikan production bouncing back in its ‘on’ year.
