Japan's exports of food and related categories surged in 2021, surpassing the target of 1 trillion yen for the first time.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says there was a year-on-year increase of over 25 percent. Exports totaled 1.24 trillion yen, or nearly 10.8 billion dollars, setting a new record for the ninth year in a row.

Exports of scallops doubled, while those of beef rose by 86 percent, and by 70 percent for whisky.

The ministry says there has been an increase in exports to retailers and online sales outlets, as more people eat at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Demand for a wide range of foods has increased, as business at restaurants picks up again in China and the US.

Food exports to China alone came to over 1.9 billion dollars. That was followed closely by Hong Kong, and the US, with about 1.46 billion dollars.

The Japanese government hopes to raise the value of exports to 2 trillion yen by 2025, and to 5 trillion yen by 2030. It plans to encourage trade partners to drop import restrictions, and will also support Japanese producers hoping to export.