China's August Seafood Imports from Japan Plummet by 67% Amid Fukushima Concerns

20 Sep, 2023

China's August Seafood Imports from Japan Plummet by 67% Amid Fukushima Concerns

Last month, China experienced a significant drop in its imports of seafood from Japan, a decline attributed to Tokyo's decision to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. According to China's customs authority, imports of Japanese seafood plummeted by 67.6% in August compared to the same period last year.

China has historically been the world's largest importer of Japanese seafood, with imports amounting to 84.4 billion yen ($571 million; £461 million) from its neighboring country in the previous year. This sharp decline coincided with Japan's preparations to begin releasing the treated wastewater and the subsequent fallout.

The accumulation of more than one million tonnes of treated wastewater at the Fukushima nuclear plant, a consequence of the 2011 tsunami that severely damaged the facility, prompted Japan to initiate the discharge on August 24. This discharge process is expected to span 30 years. On the same day, China announced a ban on all Japanese seafood imports, raising concerns among fishing industry groups in Japan and the wider region about the impact on their livelihoods.

It's worth noting that Japan has asserted the safety of the released water, a position supported by many scientists and endorsed by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. Japan has also emphasized that similar wastewater releases occur at other nuclear power plants in China and France. To provide reassurance, Japan regularly publishes reports demonstrating that seawater near Fukushima exhibits no detectable levels of radioactivity.

China strongly protested the release, and there were instances of disinformation, such as attacks on Japanese schools in China and reports of hostile phone calls to local businesses in Fukushima. Tokyo issued warnings to its citizens traveling to China, advising them to take precautions and avoid speaking Japanese loudly in public.

In response to concerns, the Japanese government pledged financial support for the fishing industry, while the operator of the Fukushima plant, Tepco, expressed its willingness to compensate local businesses affected by the release. Japanese politicians have also been actively promoting the safety of Fukushima seafood and water.

Despite the decline in seafood exports, economists believe that it is unlikely to have a significant impact on Japan's overall economy, as its exports to China are predominantly composed of automobiles and machinery.