Kagoshima Kurobuta (Berkshire) Pork

Kagoshima Kurobuta (かごしま黒豚) · Kagoshima Prefecture (also Kumamoto, Okayama)
Meat & Seafood Pork Chilled Growing export

Japan's premium heritage Berkshire pork, derived from UK Berkshire stock imported from the 1860s. Fine muscle fibre, higher-melting-point fat, sweetness and tender-yet-light eating quality distinguish it from commodity pork. A gourmet specialty (tonkatsu, shabu-shabu) marketed under the protected 'Kurobuta' name; export is niche and premium.

The supplierBrand-certified Berkshire (100% Berkshire bloodline for genuine Kagoshima Kurobuta) via Kagoshima Berkshire producers / prefectural promotion bodies. Kagoshima is Japan's top pork-producing prefecture with integrated farm-to-pack operators. Typical: export via pork-approved establishments.
Why it sells abroadGenuine Berkshire 'Kurobuta' with fine grain, sweet fat and tenderness — Japan's benchmark premium pork; clear quality story vs commodity pork.

Buyer's brief ✓ SOURCES VERIFIED

CertificationsKagoshima Kurobuta brand certification (confirmed): Berkshire ('black pig') pedigree managed by the Kagoshima Meat Export Federation (k-meat.net) and the Kurobuta Producers Convention; finished on a sweet-potato (10-20%) feed mix ≥60 days, carcasses pass quality inspection. HACCP / FSSC 22000 / US-FSIS export establishment: not publicly verified at brand level (plant-specific). NOTE: Halal does not apply to pork.
Pack formatsVac-pac primals and portion cuts (loin, belly, shoulder, fillet), boxed; ~5-10kg/carton, frozen or chilled.
Shelf lifeChilled vac-pac: ~21-40 days at 0-2°C (typical). Frozen: ~9-12 months at -18°C (typical).
StorageChilled 0-2°C or frozen -18°C or below.
Minimum orderTypical: FCL reefer for frozen; chilled air for premium portions.
Lead timeTypical: 2-4 weeks incl. export health certificate.
CapacityTypical: good — large Kagoshima pork base supports recurring volume.
Container loadTypical: frozen reefer 20ft (~9-11t)/40ft (~25-27t); chilled premium by air.
PricingEstimate: premium pork — Typical $10-25/kg FOB by cut.
OEM / private labelPrivate-label/processing available (cut/portion to spec).
Wholesale & MOQChilled premium cuts airfreight to Asian gourmet retail/foodservice; frozen for longer routes; smaller MOQ than commodity pork.
Key exporters & distributorsKagoshima Kurobuta brand councils, Starzen, Nippon Ham, integrated meat exporters
Export regulationApproved/listed processing establishment + Animal Quarantine Service health certificate; importing-country swine-health conditions (CSF/ASF status, cooking/processing requirements for some markets). 'Kagoshima Kurobuta' prefectural brand certification.
Market demandPremium retail + HORECA in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, US, Thailand (tonkatsu/shabu-shabu positioning).
How to source itKagoshima Meat Export Federation / Kurobuta Producers Convention + integrated pork exporters (e.g. Starzen, NH Foods group); JETRO; FOODEX JAPAN.
Verified sourceshttp://en.k-meat.net/kurobuta; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagoshima_Berkshire; https://www.starzen.co.jp/en/product/
MakerVarious (brand-certified) — Kagoshima Berkshire producers
OriginKagoshima Prefecture (also Kumamoto, Okayama)
CategoryMeat & Seafood / Pork
Available inHK, SG, TW +2 more
HandlingChilled
Price tierPremium
ChannelSpecialty
Export readinessGrowing export
HS code0203 / 0210
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Profile maintained by Japonity (japonity.com), May 2026. General sourcing information only — confirm current availability, pricing, MOQ and the destination market's import rules with the maker or exporter before contracting. Japonity is not affiliated with this brand.