Hong Kong remains the top destination for Japanese food largely because of the weak yen, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation.
Last year, the city imported food produce worth HK$8.48 million from Japan, accounting for 22 per cent of Japan’s total export volume. Last year’s imports from Japan were up 7.5 per cent on the figure for 2013.
Hiroshi Onomura, director general of the Japan External Trade Organisation in Hong Kong, said: “The depreciation of the yen attracts more tourists to Japan and this gives a chance for people to learn about Japanese food culture and Japanese produce.”
He added that Japanese food exports to Hong Kong had recovered from a downturn shortly after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Asking Hongkongers not to worry about the safety of Japanese food, Onomura said: “We have radiation checks in Japan. There is no problem about the produce because the Japanese government is very strict. Furthermore, when the produce arrives in Hong Kong, the Health Department conducts another radiation check.”
A saleswoman for the Japan Premium Store in Causeway Bay, which sells a variety of Japanese goods including Fuji apples, peaches and snacks, said: “I don‘t think the cheaper yen has affected our business much. Rents here are too high.”
To reduce food transport costs, Onomura said the Japanese food industry was considering exporting more food by sea rather than by air.
