Kiwifruit generic

While the total household expenditure on fresh fruit in Japan continues to decline, expenditure on bananas and kiwifruit has been on the rise.

Kiwifruit has been the rising star of Japan’s fruit market, with both household expenditure and consumption hitting its peak in July 2015.

“Kiwifruit consumption in July 2015 was still really hot,” Jack Moriya of Tokyo Seika said. “Expenditure at Y186 per household was the highest in July in the last 11 years since statistics began; the average of the last 11 years has been Y136 per household. Consumption was 299gm per household and was the highest in July as well, compared to an average of 172gm per household over the past 11 years. The purchasing price was Y812 per kg, still in high level though so far as the last four years, it’s the lowest.”

Likewise, Japanese consumers continue to increase the volume and expenditure of bananas.

“The expenditure of Y446 was the second highest after July 2009 when it was Y480 during the banana diet boom,” Moriya explained. “Consumption is 1.58kg lower than the 1.68kg average in the last 13 years. In terms of purchasing price, Y282 per kg was the highest in July, which made the expenditure higher.”

Meanwhile, consumption of grapefruit and oranges has seen a fall over the past few years, with household expenditure also dropping significantly.