Market research

Plums and sloes market in Japan, 2026

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the Japanese market for fresh plums and sloes contracted significantly, with volume falling from 23 079 t to 16 480 t. This decline was mirrored by a drop in domestic production over the same period.

The market recovered to 18 934 t in 2021 and stabilized near 18 992 t in 2022. However, volume fell again to 17 268 t in 2023. This downturn coincided with lingering consumer distrust in the health food sector following the red yeast rice incident, which slowed demand recovery for products perceived as health-promoting, including certain fresh fruits.

By 2024, the reclassification of COVID-19 to a Category 5 disease increased out-of-home activity and boosted in-store retail sales, creating a more favorable environment for fresh produce purchases. Concurrently, broader food industry trends of price-led market expansion amid falling sales volumes due to consumer thrift persisted. Moving into 2025, heightened focus on healthy eating and the shift toward sustainable, eco-friendly packaging continued to shape consumer preferences, potentially influencing the market for fresh fruits like plums and sloes.

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. 4.2. 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, 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, 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, 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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
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 plums and sloes in Japan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of plums and sloes, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of plums and sloes, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Japan's production of plums and sloes rebounded in 2021 after a two-year decline. The country produced 18 800 tonnes, representing a 13.9% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2018 to 2021, overall production fell by 18.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 6.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2020 at 16 500 tonnes, while the sharpest year-on-year drop occurred in 2019 with a 21.6% decrease.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.6%)	(8.8%)	13.9%	(6.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports plums and sloes from Japan

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. Plum and sloe exports from Japan hit their lowest point in 2020 at 20.3 tonnes, then peaked in 2019 at 38.1 tonnes, resulting in a 1.9-fold difference between these extremes. In 2021, exports rebounded sharply to 35.2 tonnes, marking a 73.6% increase from the previous year. The most significant decline was recorded in 2020 at 46.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with an 81.3% rise.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	81.3%	(46.8%)	73.6%	18.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, Japan's plum and sloe exports were highly concentrated, with Hong Kong accounting for 94.3% of the total volume.

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

The data indicates irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. Exports in value terms varied significantly, from a low in 2018 to a high in 2021, with a 2.2-fold difference between these years. In 2021, plum and sloe exports from Japan reached 330 thousand US dollars, showing a steep 71.7% increase compared to 2020. The largest decline was recorded in 2020 at 29.1%, while the most substantial increase occurred in 2019 with an 82.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	82.5%	(29.1%)	71.7%	30.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Japan's plum and sloe exports in value terms were almost exclusively directed to Hong Kong, which absorbed 92.5% of the total.

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 plums and sloes to Japan

Imports in kind, t

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2018 and 2021, the United States dominated Japan's plum and sloe imports in volume, accounting for 100.0% of the total.

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

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2018–2021 period, the United States effectively concentrated Japan's plum and sloe imports in value terms, holding a 100.0% share of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io