A shortage of domestic fruit has driven up demand for imported produce in Japan this winter, a recent market study reveals.
A report by Japanese marketing and consultancy company Yamano & Associates said severe cold and heavy snow in late December severely affected Japanese fruit yields, with citrus, strawberry and apple volumes the worst hit.
The Japan fruit market report (January) said fruit marketers had to ramp up import orders to fill gaps in supply. And December saw import volumes double previous year’s levels, hitting 198,420 tonnes.
Overall demand for imported fruit is likely to remain high in Japan until domestic fruit supplies return to normal, the report’s author Hisao Takeda said.
Yet import market conditions on a product-by-product basis in January were mixed, according to the study.
Bananas – by far Japan’s top imported fruit in volume terms – from the Philippines and Ecuador traded well, thanks to stable volumes, steady quality and website promotions organized by Japan’s banana import association to coincide with the Japanese entrance exam season.
But avocados fared less well. Prices plummeted in January due to poor quality early season force-ripened Mexican product – which account for the bulk of imported avocados.
Demand for imported whole pineapple from the Philippines slowed in January after peak Christmas sales. Though sales of fresh-cut pineapple continue to rise unabated.
Excessive rain in the Philippines, meanwhile, affected mango volumes to Japan during the first half of January, but had a limited effect on the market since demand was already weak.
Peruvian mangoes were blighted by quality problems, such as inconsistent shapes and pit holes in the pulp. And Brazilian mangoes arrived a month earlier than last season, in place of Australian mangoes.
Imported US grapefruit sales benefitted from televised advertisements and tasting events organized by leading Japanese fruit importer Royal during the month of January, which also saw the start of the US cherry season.
Hawaiian and Philippine papayas, meanwhile, traded well in January, thanks to orderly marketing and no problems with quality or price.
Demand for US watermelon was weak, however, and only small volumes of large-sized fruit was traded.
To order your copy of Japan fruit market report (January) by Yamano & Associates, email takeda@yamano.co.jp
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