(Update) Over 30 Companies Apply to Sell Govt-Stockpiled Rice

   Tokyo, May 27 (Jiji Press)--More than 30 companies have applied to sell government-stockpiled rice totaling around 150,000 tons under discretionary contracts, Japanese agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi revealed in an X post on Tuesday.
   According to the agriculture ministry, the government concluded contracts with some companies the same day, and they could receive unpolished rice as early as Thursday.
   After being polished and packaged, the rice is expected to hit store shelves as early as Monday with price tags of as low as 2,000 yen per 5 kilograms excluding tax.
   The ministry began accepting applications on Monday. As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, 19 companies had submitted applications, according to the ministry. More companies, including retailers Aeon Co. and FamilyMart Co., applied later, ministry officials said.
   The 19 companies applied to sell 10 to 15,000 tons each. While the ministry accepted applications for rice harvested in 2021 and 2022, most were for 2022 rice.

(2025/05/27-20:45)