The Japanese market is a destination of opportunity and great projection
The objective of the action has been to boost the presence of Andalusian food and drinks in two of the largest cities in Japan, a country with 128 million potential consumers.
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Andalucía TRADE has organized the participation of around thirty Andalusian companies through their Japanese importers in two cooking courses held in the cities of Yokoma and Nagoya before more than 150 professionals from the sector, on July 12 and 14.
Andalucía reached a historical record in its agri-food exports to Japan in 2022, with sales of 164 million euros and a year-on-year growth of 14,8%, which places it as the second Asian market for the sector after China.
The professional meeting has been an exceptional opportunity to expand the pessence of Andalusian agriculture which has already made its way into Japan, the thirteenth global destination for community food and beverages. He Japanese market is a destination of opportunity and great projection, since it consists of a population that is increasingly interested in Western cuisine, and specifically in Andalusian products, considered very healthy and which they have incorporated into their diet, such as olive oil.
In this way, the Andalusian firms have participated in separate showcookings held in Yokohama and in Nagoya, through its 24 local importers thanks to the action carried out by Andalucía TRADE in collaboration with the Japanese association of AJCA chefs (All Japan Chefs Association), a public entity in operation since 1959 and which brings together more than 8.000 chefs.
Andalusia TRADE-Agency for Transformation and Economic Development has had in this action the renowned and avant-garde chef from Malaga Pablo Vega, from the Ménade restaurant (Málaga), who has been in charge of directing the two cooking courses with great success in participation and More than 150 chefs, professionals from the Horeca sector and opinion leaders attended.
During the showcooking, you could taste typical Andalusian dishes such as salmorejo, salad with tuna belly, salted fish, pickles, a stew of cabbage and bacon washed down with Oloroso wine, and a paella of green asparagus and entrecôte.
Andalusian companies
The thirty participating Andalusian companies that have attended the showcooking with, through their importers, come from the provinces of Cordoba (Alvear, Pérez Baquero, Sierra Morena Hams, Toro Albalá Wineries, Pedroches Valley Ham, Valderrama Oils, La Abuela Carmen and Canoliva Oils), Cadiz (Bodegas Barbadillo, Bodegas Williams & Humbert, Católico Agrícola Chipiona, Salazones Herpac, El Majuelo and Ecosal) and Seville (Cruzcampo, Goya and Jabugo Consortium).
Marks of Malaga (Picoteo, Bodegas Pérez Hidalgo and Ly Company), Jaen (Laquinta Esencia, Castillo de Canena Olive Juice, Oro de Bailén Oils, Castellar Oils, Supremo Oil, Oleícola Jaén, Verde Esmeralda Olive and Verde Puro), Almeria (You preserve the Gergaleña) and Huelva (Domecq Hams). The organization of this action by Extenda will be co-financed with funds from the European Union through the FEDER OP of Andalusia 2014-2020, endowed with a community contribution of 80%, or any other European Program susceptible to co-finance this action.
Olive oil, two thirds of the bill
According to data from Andalucía TRADE, lThe agri-food basket in Japan is increasingly attractive in a market that breaks a record of exports with 164 million in 2022, and a growth of 14,8% year-on-year. With these data, Andalusia is positioned as the third largest exporting community in Spain, with 12,4% of total sales, only ahead of Catalonia and Aragon.
The foods exported are diverse, however, olive oil leads sales prominently, with sales of 98 million euros, 60% of total sales to Japan, with a growth of 8,8%; a product that is broken down from the first most exported chapter, fats and oils, with sales of 108 million, an increase of 11,5%, and which concentrate 66% of total sales to this destination.
In second place is meat and edible offal, with sales of 27,9 million, 17% of sales and an increase of 24,5%; followed by fish and crustaceans, which with the second best growth in the Top10 with an increase of 85% in this period, generating a turnover of 12,2 million.
Vegetable preparations follow, with sales of 5,3 million, and 3,3% of total sales. With lower sales, the growth of essential oils stands out especially, which with more than triple sales (+222%), generating a turnover of 479.000 euros, and coffee and tea, with 473.000 euros and a 76% increase in sales.