A shortage of supply of bananas from the Philippines as well as the weak yen have increased the purchasing price of bananas in Japan.
The purchasing price of bananas reached its 16-year peak at¥271 (US$2.18)per kg in June this year, according to Japan’s Bureau of Statistics of Finance - the highest since August 1998 when it reached¥283.
“It is a concern that such a high purchasing price may make banana consumption decline,” Jack Moriya said, adding that high import costs could eventually lead importers and wholesalers to distribute bananas at higher prices.
Kiwifruit sales and consumption have been performing well in Japan, though, with the average household expenditure on kiwifruit reaching¥249 (US$2.01) in June 2015, the highest in 11 years. June was also the leading month for kiwifruit consumption, hitting an average of 300g per household, compared to 179g a year ago, though the purchasing price per kg of kiwifruit remained consistent from 2012-2015.
