Japan

In 2023, there was a symbolic pivot in how Japan faced COVID-19. It was in May that the government announced that it would reclassify COVID-19 from a Class 2 infectious disease to a Class 5 infectious disease. Class 2 meant it was a crucial disease…

Total confectionery packaging volumes in Japan saw a decline in 2023. Although turning to decline in 2023, flexible plastic continued to account for the highest packaging volumes in confectionery in 2023. This is primarily driven by its versatility,…

Snacks in Japan witnessed growth in retail current value terms in 2023, yet volume sales in many categories saw a decline due to price increases. The rate of price hikes was notably around 10%, but there were instances where products underwent…

Gum in Japan is set to see a second year of slight retail volume growth and stronger current value growth in 2024, in a rebound after a period of decline in volume terms. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, chewing gum (the dominant category)…

Since 2022, chocolate confectionery in Japan has seen a steady rise in the unit price per kilogram, and this trend is anticipated to persist in 2024. Increasing prices are largely attributed to the premiumisation of confectionery, which began around…