Tokyo  - Japan's farm ministry said Thursday it plans to import 5,000 tons of butter as it expects a shortage before the demand peaks around the Christmas holidays.

The government hopes the dairy products would arrive in Japan by fall to satisfy the highest demand period of the year.

Major Japanese dairy-product manufacturing companies have increased their output of butter since May, when the nation faced a serious shortage of butter.

But rising prices of feed have affected the production of raw milk, which is the main ingredient of butter, Jiji Press said.

While some grocery stores imposed a limit of one or two bars of butter to a consumer, others failed to catch up with stocking their shelves in spring.

Butter has been in short supply recently in Japan due largely to a shortage of raw milk. (dpa)