#Japan #Tokyo #Food Industry #Frozen Foods

Overview

On April 16, 2023, the Japan Frozen Food Association, led by President Taro Fujie, announced significant findings regarding the production and consumption of frozen foods in Japan for the year 2023. The report highlights promising growth trends in both sectors.

Key Findings

In 2023, the domestic production of frozen foods rose by 2.4%, reaching a record high of 857.7 billion yen. These numbers reflect ongoing shifts in consumer behavior and market demand for frozen goods.

Production Statistics

• - Total domestic production: 1,574,000 tons, an increase of 2.4% compared to the previous year.
• - Total production value: 857.7 billion yen, representing a remarkable growth of 6.4%.
• - Household and commercial segments: Both sectors saw upticks, with the commercial segment continuing to outperform households in terms of quantity produced.

- Household consumption: 760,000 tons (102.8% growth), with a value of 445.8 billion yen (109.6% growth).
- Commercial consumption: 814,000 tons (101.9% growth), valued at 411.9 billion yen (103.1% growth).

This marks the third consecutive year the commercial segment exceeds household production in size, while household sales have outstripped commercial sales for six consecutive years when measured by value.

Category Performance

A further breakdown by category reveals that prepared foods constitute the largest segment by volume, showing ongoing consumer preference trends:

• - Major Categories: The majority of the production comes from prepared foods, which increased by 2.8%. Meanwhile, production from seafood declined by 7.6%, and agricultural products dropped by nearly 2.2%.

Top Products by Volume

1. Udon
2. Croquettes
3. Gyoza
4. Fried Rice
5. Chinese Noodles

The top five products maintained the same rankings as the preceding year, ensuring continuity in consumer preferences.

Notable Increases

Certain products exhibited particularly noteworthy growth, such as:

• - Katsu: Increased by 17.0%.
• - Pilaf: Increased by 16.7%.
• - Gyoza: Increased by 13.0%.

New this year is the category labeled 'one plate,' which achieved a production figure of 20,000 tons worth 13.5 billion yen.

Consumption Trends

The domestic consumption volume of frozen foods increased by 3.6%, crossing the landmark figure of 3 million tons for the first time. The per capita annual consumption also saw an incremental rise of 1.0 kg, totaling 24.6 kg, marking a new historical high in consumption.

Imports

The import of frozen vegetables also showed significant growth:

• - Import Volume: 1,225,000 tons (104.9% growth), and
• - Import Value: 334.3 billion yen (100.9% growth).

Both figures have reached unprecedented highs since record-keeping began.

Conclusion

The data from the Japan Frozen Food Association for 2023 indicates a robust market for frozen foods, driven by evolving consumer preferences and increased health consciousness. The continued growth in both production and consumption suggests a bright future for the frozen food industry in Japan. For detailed insights, please refer to the official press release.