Japan: Potato Area Falls to 70,900 ha, 45% Below 1985, as Hokkaido Grows 81.5% of the Crop
Japan planted 70,900 hectares of potatoes in 2024, down from 130,100 hectares in 1985. Domestic output of about 2.3 million tonnes covers only part of demand of about 3.5 million tonnes.
Japan planted 70,900 hectares of potatoes in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). In 1985, the area was 130,100 hectares. The area has therefore shrunk by 45% in 40 years.
Domestic production reached about 2.3 million tonnes in fiscal 2024, the ministry said in a December 2025 briefing. FAOSTAT, published by Our World in Data, shows 2.24 million tonnes for 2024. In 2000, FAOSTAT recorded 2.90 million tonnes.
One island grows most of the crop
Hokkaido produced 81.5% of the national crop in 2024, according to the ministry. It held 68.7% of the planted area. Hokkaido also grows 93–97% of all seed potatoes in Japan.
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The number of seed growers is falling. The ministry counted 1,386 in 2013 and only 952 in 2024. That is a drop of about 31% in eleven years.
Yields have stayed high. FAOSTAT shows 30.6 t/ha in 2000 and 32.3 t/ha in 2024. The 2023 figure was 33.2 t/ha. The 2024 dip followed a dry July in Hokkaido. The ministry said the drought led to smaller tubers.
Demand outruns supply
Total demand in fiscal 2024 was about 3.5 million tonnes, according to the ministry. Domestic potatoes therefore covered roughly two thirds of it. Imports of frozen and processed products filled the rest.
Processed foods took 52% of total demand. Starch took 21%, fresh use 15% and other uses 13%. Domestic potatoes are used differently. Starch took 31% of the domestic crop. Processed foods took 27% and fresh use 23%.
The ministry noted that demand for potato chips has grown strongly. Domestic output is not enough for processors, who rely on imports to cover their needs.
Why it matters
Japan depends on one region for four fifths of its potatoes and nearly all of its seed. A single dry month in Hokkaido can therefore cut national supply. The fall in seed growers adds a second risk for future planting.
For processors and exporters, the gap between 2.3 and 3.5 million tonnes is the key figure. It explains why access for imported potatoes is a sensitive trade issue. Domestic growers are shrinking in area while processors need more raw material.
Photo: A potato field and the Yubari Mountains, Hokkaido, Japan (illustrative). pakku / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
