EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN VEGETABLE INDUSTRY:
We Need More Competitiveness to Penetrate the Luxury Japanese Vegetable Market

Dr Vong Nguyen, NSW Agriculture, Tel. (02) 4348 1927

With RIRDC's financial support, Dr Vong Nguyen undertook a study tour to Japan in Nov. 1997 to investigate the Japanese and Korean vegetable markets. This is part of his report on opportunities for export of Australian vegetables to Japan. The next part of his report will be published in the August issue of the Asian Foods newsletter. The full report titled 'Report on the study tour to Japan on Pickling of Asian Vegetables and Attendence at an International Symposium on Vegetable Quality in Seoul, Korea 1997' is available from the author.

The Japanese Vegetable Markets

In monetary terms, the Japanese imported vegetable market has been setting new records annually since the 1980s.

• Table 1 depicts all imported commodities rose at least 27% in volume and value when comparing 1996 to 1988. Vegetables in vinegar was the fastest growing commodity with an increase of 326% in volume since 1988. Cucumber, gherkin and more recently ginger, represented 68% of the total vegetable in vinegar import values.
• Frozen vegetables was the most significant imported commodity after fresh vegetables. Potatoes, green soybeans, taro and sweet corn are the important frozen vegetables.
• Shiitake mushroom, bamboo shoot, Zenmai Royal fern (Osmunda japonica THUNB.) and onion represented 50% of the dried vegetable import value.

• Australia exported small amounts of processing vegetables includeing sweetcorn, potatoes, peas and vegetable juice.
• Major and/or new imports for Japan are:
  • Fresh: asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, onion, Japanese squash
  • Frozen: spinach, taro, broccoli
  • Dried: radish
  • Prepared: bamboo shoot, ginger, vegetable juice
  • In brine: lotus root
  • Vinegar: ginger

Australian Share of the Japanese Imported Vegetable Market

• The main Australian vegetable exports to Japan were asparagus, onion, sweetcorn, broccoli and carrot.
• China and USA share 68% of the Japanese import market.

• Australia is able to supply Japan's off-season markets. However, high CIF prices makes it difficult for Australia to penetrate the Japanese markets.
• There are at least 38 countries who have established trading links with Japan. Other Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia who can supply fresh vegetables to Japan include New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, South Africa, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Argentina.
• Australia had only 1.2% of the Japanese market owing to high CIF price.