Japan soy sauce shipments in 2025 hit 75-yr low amid westernized diet
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Shipments of domestic soy sauce fell to 670,159 kiloliters in 2025, the lowest level in 75 years and roughly half of the peak in 197
Japan's domestic soy sauce shipments reached a 75-year low in 2025, with 670,159 kiloliters shipped, according to the soy sauce industry association. This decline is attributed to the Westernization of the Japanese diet and the increasing popularity of pre-made condiments containing soy sauce as a base. Food manufacturers are observing a shift towards convenience and efficiency, with consumers preferring to avoid making condiments from scratch at home.
Despite a 1.6% decrease in total shipments from the previous year, soy sauce exports have increased by 9.6% in 2025, reaching around 52,000 kiloliters. The Japanese Soy Sauce Association is offering seminars to assist small and medium-sized businesses in exporting their products. To boost domestic sales, particularly among younger generations, companies must emphasize appealing to this demographic in the mid- to long-term.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
