Market research

Melons market in Japan

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The melon market in Japan, measured by volume, contracted from 179.6 thousand tons in 2018 to 155.4 thousand tons in 2023. In value terms, the market declined from $1.41 billion to $1.06 billion over the same six-year period, although it experienced a brief resurgence in 2021.

Domestic production followed a similar downward trend, falling from 152.9 thousand tons to 145.2 thousand tons. Imports were nearly halved, dropping from 27.2 thousand tons to 11.3 thousand tons, while exports remained minimal but grew slightly from 0.5 thousand tons to 1.1 thousand tons.

By 2024, the frozen food market in Japan was expanding significantly, driven by consumer demand for convenience and health-oriented options, which could influence the melon segment through frozen fruit products. In 2025, Shizuoka prefecture established advanced production techniques and quality management for greenhouse melons, gaining high recognition in the national market. Ibaraki prefecture maintained its 26-year position as the top melon producer, though consumer brand awareness remained highest for Hokkaido melons.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Japan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Japan in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Japan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production melons in Japan

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Japan ranked 22nd globally in melon production between 2018 and 2021.

Top producers of melons, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of melons, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Japan produced 150.0 K t of melons, a 1.4% increase from 2020. Production peaked in 2019 at 156.0 K t, then dropped to its lowest point in 2020 at 147.9 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 5.2% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 2.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Japan in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.0%	(5.2%)	1.4%	(0.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

After two years of decline, Japan's melon production value rebounded in 2021, reaching 1 313 M $ US, a moderate 9.8% increase from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production value fell by 5.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 1 196 M $ US, marking the largest decline of 11.5% that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Japan in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.9%)	(11.5%)	9.8%	(1.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports melons from Japan

Exports in kind, t

Japan's melon exports have grown for the third consecutive year. In 2021, exports reached 1 109 t, a 17.8% rise from 2020. From 2018 to 2021, exports surged by 125.2%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 31.1%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	27.8%	49.5%	17.8%	31.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Hong Kong dominated Japan's melon exports in volume, consistently accounting for 87.7% of the total, while the remaining share was distributed among other countries.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Japan's melon export value has increased for the third year in a row. In 2021, exports amounted to 9 709 K $ US, a sharp 27.6% jump from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, export value grew by 116.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 29.4%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.7%	39.6%	27.6%	29.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Hong Kong was the leading market for Japan's melon exports in value terms, holding an 85.9% share, with the rest spread across other partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports melons to Japan

Imports in kind, t

Japan's melon imports have declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports stood at 13 902 t, down 19.1% from 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports fell by 48.9%, equivalent to an annualized decrease of 20.1%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(20.5%)	(20.6%)	(19.1%)	(20.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, the main sources for Japan's melon imports in volume were Mexico (46.1%), the United States (17.0%), and Australia (14.1%), together making up 77.2% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2021, Japan imported 22 767 K $ US worth of melons, a 3.9% increase from the previous year. The lowest value was in 2020 at 21 908 K $ US, while the highest was in 2019 at 22 932 K $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2020 with a 4.5% drop.

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