Monthly Report for February 2017 Japan. Itinerary for USDBC Reverse Trade Mission Report

Transcription

1 Monthly Report for February 2017 Japan I. Activities during February Spearheaded the USDBC trade mission to Japan that took place the week of February 12-17, The trade mission included meetings with the U.S. Agricultural Trade Office at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, meetings and reception with the Japan Bean and Pea Importers Association in both Tokyo and Kobe, visits to bean paste manufacturing facilities and confection shops, a meeting with a major Japanese food manufacturer who currently buys dry beans for non-bean paste applications, and a visit to a warehouse in Kobe. A brief synopsis of the itinerary appears below. A trip report will be forwarded separately with the March report. 2. Discussed potential changes being considered by the Japanese government to of Origin Labeling laws with FAS US embassy staff regarding ingredients for food products produced in Japan. More information is expected to be released by the Japanese government at the end of March 2017 and will be forwarded to USDBC at that time. 3. Forwarded import statistics to USDBC for US dry beans for the month of December 2016 Itinerary for USDBC Reverse Trade Mission Report Date: February 12 17, 2017 Participants Mr. Chris Capaul (CA baby lima grower), Mr. Jim Wallace (CA, Colusa Produce) Mr. Gary Huss, Mr. Andrew Carlson (N, Kelley Bean Company), Mr. Nathan Sano (USDBC) USDBC Japan: Jeff McNeill, Hiroshi Furuyama, Itsuki Tomiyama Date Time Hotel Mon, Feb 13 9:00 10:00 11:00 Tue, Feb 14 9:25 12:00 13:10 Meet with USDBC Japan in the hotel lobby Visit to U.S. mbassy ATO Director, Ms. Rachel Nelson and others. 11:30-13:30 Lunch meeting with Importers Association at Hibiki restaurant in Akasaka (walking distance from U.S. mbassy) 14:00-16:30 Store checks/free time 16:55 Depart for dinner from Okura by a shuttle bus 17:30 Meiji Kinenkan tour 18:00-20:00 Dinner with importers (place: Meiji Kinenkan Bus departs for Asakusa (visit Matoba Bakery in Asakusa) Lunch nearby Matoba-seian plant (USDBC only) Plant Tour at Matoba Seian in Matsudo, Chiba Hotel: Okura Tokyo 1

2 Date Time Hotel 16:30 18:00 Wed, Feb 15 10:00 AM 16:00 17:30-19:30 (1hr from Tokyo by car) Traditional Wagashi shop Saka-sho tour Back to hotel Check-out, move to Tokyo station by jumbo taxi Bullet Train travel to Kobe (3.5 hrs from Tokyo) Importers Association meeting Place: inside the hotel (Room: Forest Wind on 35th Floor) Dinner with importers (35 th floor) Thu, Feb 16 9:10 10:00-12:00 Leave hotel by Jumbo taxi Meeting with Fujicco in Kobe ( 14:00 Warehouse visit at Sugihara Sangyo in Kobe 17:00 Back to hotel Fri, Feb 17 10:00 Check out Fly out of Kansai International airport (70 minutes by airport shuttle bus from the nearby station from the hotel) Hotel: ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe II. Dry Bean Import Statistics The Japanese import statistics for U.S. dry beans for the first month of 2017 are attached. After increasing by 9.5% in November 2016 and 96.4% in December 2016, imports of U.S. dry beans fell sharply in January 2017 as importers adjusted inventories. Overall, exports of U.S. dry beans to Japan as measured by the Japanese government decreased 64.2% versus the previous year to 280 MT. Sales of baby lima beans decreased 67.8% versus the prior year to 182 MT. Imports of U.S. kidney beans, including great northern beans, decreased 56.3%, while Adzuki Beans (small red beans) were not imported. Imports of U.S. garbanzo beans decreased 48.8% compared to the same period in US baby lima exports to Japan have been negatively impacted by the sharp decline in the prices of Myanmar butter beans the past year and the influence of the strong dollar. The large Japanese domestic dry bean crop last season, especially for adzuki beans and white otebo beans, also has hurt US adzuki and great northern bean imports. Shipments are expected to rebound in February but the current negative competitive environment is expected to continue for the next several months Bean Category Adzuki (Small red) (HS code ) Kidney Beans (Great Northern, Tebou & Navy beans) (HS code ) Other Bean (includes baby limas) (HS code ) Garbanzos (HS code ) U.S. Dry Bean xports to Japan January (MT) YTD(MT) % Chg % Chg. 0 0 #DIV/0! 0 0 #DIV/0! % % % % % % TOTAL % % Souce: Japanese Government Import Statistics 2

3 III. Market Conditions Imports of dry beans from around the world to Japan for the Pooled Quota were 4,268 MT for the first month of 2017 compared to 3,799 MT the same period in 2016, an increase of 12.3%. xports of Myanmar butter beans, with which baby lima beans compete, were 346 MT for the January period, compared to 63 MT for the same period in xports of Myanmar butter beans have increased dramatically as a result of very low prices for most of Despite increasing demand from China for Myanmar butter beans, the price of Myamanr beans (see below) remains nearly half that of U.S. baby limas on a delivered to Japan basis. Prices of domestic Japanese adzuki beans have increased due to rains during the 2016 harvest which reduced the size of this year s crop. However, according to industry sources, sufficient inventories of domestic adzuki beans exist to carry through to the 2017 summer harvest. Baby Limas: Prices for U.S. baby limas as measured on a CNF basis to Japan were 133.3/kg in January 2017 compared to 151.4/kg in January On a yen basis, the value of baby lima bean imports was 24 million yen (approximately $0.22 million) for the first month of Prices of Myanmar butter beans clearing customs in January decreased 29.1% versus the same period of the prior year, and were 62.2/kg in January on a CNF basis to Japan compared to 87.7/kg, the same period in Prices for Myanmar butter beans have declined sharply due to lowered demand from China and a large butter bean crop. This led to an increase in the exports to Japan as Japanese importers took advantage of extremely low prices from Myanmar. CNF Price Japan Port, HS code IV. General conomic Conditions The Japanese GDP economy rose only 0.2% in the last quarter of Overall GDP grew less than 1.0% in 2016, reflecting the continued weakness of the Japanese economy. Prime Minister Abe travelled to the U.S. to meet President Trump in February 2017 to discuss economic and security ties. As a result of their meetings, talks on potential economic bilateral ties were agreed to be initiated in April between the two countries. Vice President Pence and Deputy Prime Minister Aso will spearhead the negotiations. V. Projects for March Yen Price/kg CNF Japan January 2017 January 2016 YTD 2016 YTD 2015 Myanmar Beans USA Lima Beans Source: Japanese Government Import Statistics Follow-up issues from the 2017 USDBC trade mission to Japan on February 12 to 17 Prepare a trip report draft in conjunction with the USDBC trade mission leader Research and report updates to Japanese requirements for of Origin Labelling for 3

4 ingredients for domestically produced Japanese foods Begin writing the US for 2018 Forward U.S. dry bean import statistics for the month of February 2017 to USDBC 4

5 The dry bean quota for the second half of fiscal 2016 (October 1, 2016 March 31, 2017) was announced by the Japanese government as of October 3 rd as follows: 1. General Quota Small red (Adzuki) beans: 13,000 MT Peas and broad bean: 8,000 MT Pegin beans & other beans, excluding small red, peas, & broad bean: 13,000 MT 2. Okinawa Quota Dry beans: 1,600 MT Due Date of Customs: March 31,

6 How to read charts The charts include the following columns: : Harmonized code number : Year and Month for data : Name of xporting Unit: Metric Ton (MT) : Quantity in MT Value in 000 yen Share - % A Price: Average price CNF Japan per kg in yen : Cumulative data for the above on a calendar year basis : includes small red beans includes kidney beans such as Great Northern and Otebou includes other beans such as baby limas Data for the current and preceding year is included for comparison s sake. 6

7 January Small red (Adzuki) beans (Phaseolus or vigna angularis), shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2017/01 Import Provisional Data Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' i TOTAL 990 MT ' i CHINA 105 MT ' i CANADA 302 MT Kidney beans, including white pea beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), excluding rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2017/01 Import Provisional Data Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' i TOTAL 990 MT ' i CHINA 105 MT ' i MYANMAR 122 MT ' i CANADA 302 MT ' i USA 304 MT ' i PRU 407 MT ' i BOLIVIA 408 MT ' i BRAZIL 410 MT ' i ARGNT 413 MT ' i THIOP 538 MT

8 Pegin beans (Phaseculus calcaratus), excluding rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2017/01 Import Provisional Data Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' i TOTAL 990 MT ' i THAILND 111 MT ' i MYANMAR 122 MT Other beans (Vigna spp., Phaseolus spp.,), excluding pegin beans (Phaseculus calcaratus), and rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2017/01 Import Provisional Data Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' i TOTAL 990 MT ' i CHINA 105 MT ' i MYANMAR 122 MT ' i USA 304 MT ' i PRU 407 MT

9 Chickpeas (garbanzos), excluding those rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment, shelled, dried 2017/01 Import Provisional Data Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' i TOTAL 990 MT ' i (. U) 991 MT ' i BANGLA 127 MT ' i ITALY 220 MT ' i TURKY 234 MT ' i CANADA 302 MT ' i USA 304 MT ' i AUSTRAL 601 MT

10 January Small red (Adzuki) beans (Phaseolus or vigna angularis), shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2016/01 Import Fixed Annual Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' I TOTAL 990 MT ' I CHINA 105 MT ' I CANADA 302 MT Kidney beans, including white pea beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), excluding rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2016/01 Import Fixed Annual Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' I TOTAL 990 MT ' I CHINA 105 MT ' I CANADA 302 MT ' I USA 304 MT ' I PRU 407 MT ' I ARGNT 413 MT

11 Pegin beans (Phaseculus calcaratus), excluding rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2016/01 Import Fixed Annual Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' I TOTAL 990 MT ' I THAILND 111 MT ' I MYANMAR 122 MT Other beans (Vigna spp., Phaseolus spp.,), excluding pegin beans (Phaseculus calcaratus), and rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment and certified as seeds for the sowing vegetables in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, shelled, dried, for "the Pooled Quota" 2016/01 Import Fixed Annual Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' I TOTAL 990 MT ' I CHINA 105 MT ' I MYANMAR 122 MT ' I USA 304 MT ' I PRU 407 MT

12 Chickpeas (garbanzos), excluding those rendered suitable solely for sowing by chemical treatment, shelled, dried 2016/01 Import Fixed Annual Ascending Order by Code (Value 1,000yen) ' I TOTAL 990 MT ' I (. U) 991 MT ' I MYANMAR 122 MT ' I INDIA 123 MT ' I ITALY 220 MT ' I CANADA 302 MT ' I USA 304 MT ' I AUSTRAL 601 MT