Japan’s produce business hit a pothole in May with the lowest level of household spending on fruit in 12 years, according to the latest figures from the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Statistics Bureau.
Average household expenditure on fruit for May was just ¥2,335 (US$29.35), the lowest figure for the month in at least 12 years and a slight decline on April figures. The average price per kg for fruit in the market was a reasonable ¥418, but household consumption bottomed out at 5.59kg.
The May decline is an unusual turn for the Japanese market, which generally follows a steady increase in spending from a January low to a peak in August. In the first four months of this year, Japanese household fruit spending had consistently held above the same months in 2011.
While the overall fruit consumption figures for May were not exactly inspirational, the market stayed strong for oranges, kiwifruit and bananas.
Household spending on bananas in May of ¥456 was respectable compared to the last few years, and average prices were comparable to last year despite tracking slightly lower in previous months.
Kiwifruit spending of ¥164 per household was also along similar lines to the same month last year, with slightly higher prices making up for a small decline in consumption volume.
Spending on oranges has been high this year into May, with consumption buoyed by low prices in the market. US navel orange stocks have continued to hang on in the Japanese market, which has been depressing prices as the first Southern Hemisphere fruit arrives.
Grapefruit sales this year have performed slightly above 2011 figures. While the results are not exciting viewed against the 10-year average, the steady decline in grapefruit’s fortunes in the Japanese market appears to have at least been halted for a time.
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