TOKYO (Realist English). Japanese consumers are bracing for another round of food and beverage price increases in 2025, with the number of affected items projected to exceed 20,000 for the first time in two years, according to a report published Monday by Teikoku Databank Ltd.
The surge is driven by elevated material, logistics, and utility costs, as well as rising labor expenses linked to Japan’s ongoing workforce shortage.
In July alone, 195 major food producers are planning to raise prices on 2,105 products, including seasonings and snacks — a fivefold increase compared to the same month in 2024.
So far, manufacturers have announced price hikes for 18,697 items through November, and the report warns that the trend is likely to persist “for the time being.”
Among product categories:
- Seasonings (such as broth and curry roux) top the list, with 6,108 items set to increase.
- Beverages, including beer and soft drinks, will see 4,483 items affected.
- Processed foods, such as frozen meals and ready-to-eat rice, will face hikes on 4,138 items.
Volatile crude oil prices, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, could further fuel inflation. “We need to keep an eye on energy-linked price hikes,” the firm noted.
Japan saw 32,396 food and beverage items affected by price increases in 2023, a figure that dropped to 12,520 in 2024 before rebounding sharply this year.
