Japan: Stone Fruit Annual

FAS/Tokyo forecasts Japan's fresh cherry production for marketing year (MY) 2026/27 at 14,000 metric tons (MT), up 25 percent from 11,200 MT in MY 2025/26. The recovery is driven by improved fruit sets in 2026 and generally favorable growing conditions in Yamagata prefecture, which accounts for roughly three-quarters of national production. FAS/Tokyo forecasts cherry imports to decline 15.6 percent to 4,200 MT as domestic availability improves. For peaches and nectarines, FAS/Tokyo forecasts MY 2026/27 production at 110,000 MT, up 9.3 percent from MY 2025/26 as the average fruit size has improved compared to the prior year's heat and drought conditions that resulted in smaller fruit. Greater domestic supply is forecast to lift consumption to 107,800 MT and support an expansion in exports to 2,500 MT, while imports remain limited at about 300 MT, consisting almost entirely of U.S. nectarines.