Food manufacturing in Japan - statistics & facts

Food manufacturing has revolutionized the Japanese diet, shifting the focus from fresh produce to industrially mass-manufactured goods. Pre-processed ingredients and prepared meals have grown popular as convenient and time-saving products in Japan, especially among young consumers and dual-income households. This trend underlies the growth of the food manufacturing industry, which accounts for 40 percent of the overarching food industry’s output. Small-sized businesses form the foundation of the industry, which also play a major role as contract manufacturers of private labels. However, besides being an industry that birthed many opportunities for sustainable food production in Japan, it also reflects social and economic challenges.

The shift from processing to manufacturing 

The food manufacturing industry is split into three main segments that supply the Japanese market with a range of minimally processed foods (primary processing) to ready-to-eat meals optimized for convenient consumption (tertiary processing). Primary processing was a staple of the food industry in the past, carried by the importance of fresh and raw ingredients in food education and the economic significance of the agriculture and fishery industries. Amid a shift in lifestyle and eating habits, secondary and tertiary processing which revolves around the manufacturing of processed foods like baked goods, sauces, and convenience foods are dominating the food industry. However, the downside of these convenient food products is their impact on the state of health in Japan. The consumption of heavily processed foods encouraged by a dynamic FMCG market is a common cause of an unbalanced diet rich in sugar, salt, and fats. While the Japanese government encourages the development of food technology to support a sustainable and healthy food industry, barely one percent of sales is reinvested into research and development.

Challenges in food manufacturing

The agriculture and fishery industries provide the raw ingredients for domestic food manufacturers, but the shrinking output in the aging society forces manufacturers to look overseas for not only the procurement of produce and semifinished products but also to expand sales channels. Even though manufactured goods account for more than half of food expenditure in Japanese households, the shrinking population limits growth opportunities. While direct production at overseas facilities was a common strategy for expansion, especially in Asian markets, the reduction of tariffs through bilateral trade agreements and the weak yen encouraged exports of processed foods from domestic facilities. At the same time, the necessity of importing food to satisfy industry and consumer demand raises concerns about quality and safety. To increase transparency and raise trust, manufacturers are increasingly integrating food traceability systems into their processes and clarifying the origins of their products on product labels.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by C. Diep, Mar 11, 2024

Key insights

Production value of the food manufacturing industry
36.5tr JPY
Value added to the GDP of the food manufacturing industry
13.5tr JPY
Leading food processor listed on the TOPIX
Asahi Group Holdings
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Production value of the food manufacturing industry in Japan from 2013 to 2022, by segment (in trillion Japanese yen)

Food & Nutrition

Food manufacturing industry's production value Japan 2013-2022, by segment

Value added to the GDP of the food manufacturing industry in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in trillion Japanese yen)

Food & Nutrition

Economic impact of food manufacturing on GDP in Japan 2013-2022

Sales value of the leading listed processed food manufacturers in Japan in fiscal year 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)

Food & Nutrition

Sales value of major food manufacturers in Japan FY 2022

Related topics

Food market

3

Processed foods

5

Beverages

5

Recommended statistics

Overview

5

Overview

Economic impact

3

Economic impact

Investment

5

Investment

Convenience food

5

Convenience food

Dairy

4

Dairy

Meat

5

Meat

Fruit and vegetables

4

Fruit and vegetables

Beverages

4

Beverages

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Food retail in Japan
Food retail in Japan
Alcoholic beverages industry in Japan
Alcoholic beverages industry in Japan
Non-alcoholic beverages industry in Japan
Non-alcoholic beverages industry in Japan
Snack foods in Japan
Snack foods in Japan
Beer industry in Japan
Beer industry in Japan
Meat industry in Japan
Meat industry in Japan
FMCG in Japan
FMCG in Japan
Eating behavior in Japan
Eating behavior in Japan
Sake market in Japan
Sake market in Japan
Tea market in Japan
Tea market in Japan
Convenience food market in Japan
Convenience food market in Japan
Dairy market in Japan
Dairy market in Japan

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Kisara Mizuno
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Menu