Japan releases 200,000 tonnes of emergency rice stockpile as prices soar

<p>Agriculture minister says rising prices have ‘had a significant impact on people’s lives’ amid record heat, surges in demand and distribution problems</p><p>Japan is to flood the market with almost a quarter of a million tonnes of stockpiled rice in an unprecedented attempt to arrest soaring prices caused by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/sep/03/japan-weather-august-heat-record-heatwaves-china">record summer heat</a>, panic buying and distribution problems.</p><p>The government will release up to 210,000 tonnes of rice, the agriculture minister, Taku Eto, said on Friday, as consumers battled a surge in prices of more than 50% in recent months.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/14/japan-releases-200000-tonnes-of-emergency-rice-stockpile-as-prices-soar">Continue reading...</a>