日本提前投放免税进口大米，但米价……

Core Points - The Japanese government has started to release tax-free imported rice to stabilize high rice prices, but media reports suggest this may not be effective [1][3] - Japan's annual zero-tariff rice import commitment is 770,000 tons, with 100,000 tons designated for human consumption and the rest for animal feed and processing [3] - The government began the bidding process for tax-free rice imports in June, approximately three months earlier than usual, and has delivered about 60,000 tons so far [3] Industry Insights - Private companies imported 26,000 tons of rice directly in July, a dramatic increase of about 200 times compared to the same period last year, with import taxes exceeding $2 per kilogram [3] - Despite the increase in imported rice, domestic rice prices have already risen, leading to concerns that overall rice prices may continue to increase [1][3] - Since the summer of 2024, extreme heat has caused poor rice harvests, contributing to a sustained rise in rice prices in Japan [3]