Frozen Food Production and Consumption Trends in Japan for 2024

On April 17, the Japan Frozen Food Association, led by President Akihiro Okushi, released preliminary results detailing the production and consumption of frozen food for the year 2024. The insights provided in this report paint a comprehensive picture of the current state of the frozen food industry in Japan.

Production Overview

Despite a slight year-on-year decrease in quantity, the overall production value of frozen foods reached an all-time high of 800.6 billion yen, marking a 2.6% increase. The total domestic production volume stood at 1,538 thousand tons, representing 99.5% compared to the previous year. This indicates a decline in sheer volume but reflects a strong market value based on quality and demand.

Home vs. Commercial Consumption

The distribution between household and commercial consumption has remained favorable for the latter category. Household frozen food production witnessed a decline in quantity, totaling 740 thousand tons (97.7%), while the monetary value rose to 406.2 billion yen (101.7%). Conversely, the commercial sector saw an increase in both volume, at 798 thousand tons (101.2%), and value, which reached 394.4 billion yen (103.7%). This trend continues to show that commercial frozen food consumption surpasses household consumption in terms of volume, although households still lead in value.

Category Insights

Delving deeper into the categories of frozen food, there was a noted decrease in the production of prepared foods, which form the bulk of frozen offerings. The top five products by quantity remained consistent with last year’s rankings:
1. Udon
2. Croquettes
3. Gyoza
4. Fried rice
5. Noodles

Overall production decreases were observed in major categories such as prepared foods (99.5% of total production), seafood (98.8%), livestock products (86.1%), and snacks (95.0%). However, there were increases in specific categories, including ramen (108.3%), pilaf (105.8%), and shumai (105.6%).

Import Trends

In addition to domestic production data, frozen vegetable imports saw significant growth, with a 4.3% increase in quantity, reaching 1,168 thousand tons, and an 8.9% increase in monetary value, totaling 331.2 billion yen—both record highs. This surge indicates a growing reliance on imported frozen vegetables to meet domestic demand in Japan.

Consumption Patterns

When it comes to domestic consumption, the total volume recorded was 2,925 thousand tons (101.5%), translating to an increase in per capita annual consumption to 23.6 kg—a rise of 0.4 kg compared to the previous year. This trend reflects a changing consumer preference towards frozen foods, suggesting a growing market for convenient meal options amid busy lifestyles.

Conclusion

In summary, while overall domestic production of frozen foods has slightly decreased in terms of quantity, the sector continues to thrive, reaching record monetary values. A notable preference shift towards commercial over household frozen food consumption indicates evolving market dynamics. With rising imports, particularly in vegetables, the frozen food landscape in Japan is robust and poised for strategic growth in the coming years. For more detailed statistics and insights, refer to the official press release from the Japan Frozen Food Association.