July Price Trends and Trading Results The private transaction price for 2024 rice crop in July 2025 averaged 26,918 yen per 60kg of brown rice across all varieties, recording a 3% decline from the previous month. This price decline is considered to be due to supply-demand adjustments as trading approaches its final stage. Private transaction volume for the same month was 40,000 tons, representing only about 2% of the total transaction volume for 2024 rice crop, indicating that distribution has entered its final phase.
Background of Rice Policy Review and Information Provision System Following the rice policy review starting from the 2018 crop, environmental improvements have been promoted to enable rice production according to demand based on independent management decisions and sales strategies of producers and collecting businesses/organizations. As part of this policy transition, more detailed supply-demand and price information, sales progress and inventory information related to rice distribution have been continuously provided since March 2014. This July data is also compiled based on reports from rice shipping and sales businesses and organizations.
Enhancement of Detailed Data and Reference Materials Detailed private transaction prices and volumes by production area and variety are provided as attached materials in "Private Transaction Prices and Volumes for 2024 Rice Crop (July 2025) (Preliminary Report)." Price data represents weighted averages of private transaction contract prices (including freight, packaging costs, and consumption tax for first-grade rice), while volume represents the total of such contract volumes. Additionally, comprehensive reference materials are simultaneously published for long-term analysis, including "Trends in Private Transaction Prices (2012-2024 Crops)," "Long-term Trends in Staple Rice Prices," "Trends in Private Transaction Contract Volumes," and "Status of Provisional Payments and Private Transaction Prices for 2024 Rice Crop."
Continuous Efforts to Improve Market Transparency This material and past survey results are constantly accessible from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries website (https://www.maff.go.jp/j/seisan/keikaku/soukatu/aitaikakaku.html), enabling stakeholders in the rice distribution industry and research institutions to utilize them for market analysis. Detailed methodologies regarding survey target businesses and compilation categories are also provided in footnotes of attached materials, ensuring transparency in information provision.
The article demonstrates that the government supports appropriate management decisions by producers and distributors through continuous and detailed market data provision as an information foundation supporting the transition of rice policy toward emphasizing market mechanisms.