Progress in the Maturation in an Import Frozen-vegetables Market

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the domestic frozen-vegetable import market moving into the period of maturity from the growth phase. Taking the viewpoint of product life cycle theory, the paper analyzes three points! sales figures, selling price, and cost. The trend of import value reveals the development importer's purchase price. The research shows that the import value is beginning to stagnate as of 2002. Analysis of sales amount reveals that domestic selling price for three development importer companies showing that after 1998, the prices of almost all items were falling dramatically. Regarding cost, analysis clarified that cost was falling for almost all items from the growth phase to the period of maturity assumed in this paper. These results show that the frozen-vegetable import market in Japan has reached the period of maturity.