Goat meat market in Japan

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, initiatives in Okinawa Prefecture aimed to boost domestic goat meat output through a breeding program designed to increase meat yield per animal by 1.6 times and develop crossbred varieties for better quality. While these efforts sought to strengthen local production, the total market volume grew to 497 t in 2019 primarily driven by a rise in imports to 460 t, as domestic production faced challenges. The market then contracted to 474 t in 2020, a period where available factors highlighted sustained local demand in Okinawa but did not specify broader drivers for the decline.

Market volume recovered to 486 t in 2021, supported by new farmers entering the sector in Okinawa to promote local cuisine and by ongoing improvements in breeding and odor-reduction techniques that enhanced the product's appeal as a healthy, high-protein food. By 2022, the market stabilized near 488 t amidst reports of soaring auction prices for goat meat, especially for sashimi-grade cuts, and the development of new products like goat jerky, which pointed to firm demand and diversification. The market saw a slight reduction to 477 t in 2023.

Production goat meat in Japan

In kind, 2018-2021, kg

Top producers of goat meat, 2018-2021

World map of production of goat meat, 2018-2021

Japan's goat meat production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 29 590 kg of goat meat, marking a 1.9% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 26.2%, which translates to an average annual decline of 9.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Japan in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Exports goat meat from Japan

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Hong Kong was the sole destination for Japan's goat meat exports in volume terms, accounting for 100.0% of the total shipments.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Between 2018 and 2021, Japan's goat meat exports in value terms were heavily concentrated on Hong Kong, which received 100.0% of the total value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2021

Imports goat meat to Japan

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, Japan imported 466.6 tonnes of goat meat, representing a 5.2% increase from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 13.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%. The largest drop occurred in 2020, when imports fell by 3.6%, while the biggest rise was in 2019, with an 11.9% increase.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Japan's goat meat imports in volume terms were dominated by Australia, which supplied 97.9% of the total.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

Japan's goat meat imports have risen for the third consecutive year. In 2021, the import value reached 4 036 thousand US dollars, up 12.5% from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports increased by 43%, corresponding to an average annual growth rate of 12.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Throughout 2018-2021, Australia was the nearly exclusive source of goat meat imports to Japan in value terms, holding a 98.7% share of the total.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2021