Key facts
- Japanese millers visited the Pellman family farm in North Dakota.
- Japan is a top buyer of U.S. Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat, valuing its high protein and strong gluten characteristics.
- Japan's annual demand for HRS wheat is approximately 31.5 million bushels, representing about 13.5% of North Dakota's total annual production.
- Japanese millers account for more than 80% of Japan's flour sales.
- In the 2024/2025 marketing year, Japan imported 2.13 million metric tons of U.S. wheat.
Japanese flour millers visited U.S. wheat fields in North Dakota, reinforcing a long-standing trade partnership built on trust and quality. The visit to the Pellman family farm provided the delegation with a firsthand look at the meticulous farming practices and technological sophistication employed by U.S. producers.
Japan is a significant and discerning buyer of U.S. wheat, particularly Hard Red Spring (HRS) wheat, due to its high protein and strong gluten characteristics. These qualities are essential for the specialized flour-based products Japanese millers produce. The delegation's visit underscored the commitment to quality and consistency that underpins this relationship.
This reciprocal engagement is part of a broader strategy by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) to maintain and strengthen its market in Japan, which has been the largest cumulative purchaser of U.S. wheat globally. USW leadership, including newly installed President and CEO Mike Spier, also recently completed their first official overseas mission to Japan, meeting with the country's top four flour milling companies, which collectively account for over 80% of the nation's flour sales.