Japan antitrust watchdog raids four major brewers over suspected beer price cartel
TOKYO -- Japan's antitrust watchdog raided four major domestic brewers Oct. 7 over suspected cartel activity in retail beer pricing, sources familiar
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) conducted a search on October 7, 2025, at the offices of four major domestic beer producers in a suspected cartel activity case related to retail beer pricing, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks the first time the four largest breweries in the country have been targeted over a suspected price cartel.
The JFTC has the authority to execute searches and seizures under criminal investigation provisions of the Antimonopoly Act, unlike routine administrative investigations.
The targeted companies are Suntory Spirits Ltd., Asahi Breweries Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co., and Sapporo Breweries Ltd., all headquartered in Tokyo. These breweries produce a broad range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including beer. The investigation centers on allegations that sales managers and other employees at the firms exchanged pricing information for several years, including through regular meetings, concerning the sale of beer, low-malt beer, and third-category beer to wholesalers.
They are suspected of coordinating prices, leading to retail price increases of several yen to several dozen yen (several cents to several dozen cents).
This pricing manipulation affects retail beer prices, which in turn influence sales at supermarkets, convenience stores, and restaurants. The JFTC believes the pricing collusion may have resulted from an attempt to maximize profits without proper competition, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers. Beer sales accounted for approximately 30% of alcoholic beverage manufacturers' domestic sales in 2024, with the four targeted breweries responsible for about 99% of those shipments.
Since 2019, the Brewers Association of Japan, which represents the four companies and one other regional firm, has not disclosed shipment volumes due to the rise of craft beers and private label products, making accurate market trends difficult to ascertain.
In fiscal year 2024, alcoholic beverage manufacturers and related entities recorded sales of about 3.84 trillion yen (approximately $24.26 billion), with beer comprising roughly 30% of that total, or about 1.15 trillion yen (around $7.28 billion). Despite a 20% decline in consumption volume since its peak in fiscal year 1996, the targeted breweries have grown their earnings through overseas expansion and business diversification.
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