主食用米需要、６７１万トン　２４年産、減少続き過去最低

　農林水産省は１９日、食料・農業・農村政策審議会（農水相の諮問機関）の食糧部会を開き、２０２４年産の主食用米の需給見通しを示した。人口動態と１人当たりの消費量から推計した需要量（２４年７月～２５年６月）は６７１万トンと、１１年連続の減少を予測。近年は年間１０万トン程度の減少ペースが続いており、過去最低を更新する。
　１人当たりの消費量は前年（２３年７月～２４年６月）比で０．６キロ減の５４．２キロと想定。人口減少に加え、食生活の多様化に伴うコメ離れに歯止めがかかっていない。生産量は、需要量並みの６６９万トンに設定した。農水省は、飼料用米や麦・大豆などへの転作を促している。２５年６月末時点の在庫量は１７６万トンを見込む。（2023/10/19-10:32）

Demand for rice to be harvested in 2024 for consumption as staple food in Japan is estimated hit a record low of 6.71 million tons, the agriculture ministry said Thursday.
   Rice demand will decline for the 11th straight year, according to the estimate presented to the day's meeting of a subgroup of a relevant panel advising the agriculture minister. Annual demand has been falling by some 100,000 tons in recent years.
   The estimated demand figure for the period from July 2024 to June 2025 was calculated based on demographic data and per-capita rice consumption.
   Direct rice consumption per person during the one-year period is forecast to drop by 600 grams year on year to 54.2 kilograms due to the country's declining population and a change in dietary habits.
   Rice to be produced in 2024 is forecast to total 6.69 million tons.