TOKYO, Feb. 6 ― Japan’s major dairy makers will raise prices for their products for the first time in four years, with effect from April 1, due to a planned increase in prices for raw milk purchased from dairy farmers, as raw milk output has continued to drop.
The dairy product makers also attributed the price hikes to rising costs for packaging materials and labor.
Morinaga Milk Industry Co. announced on Feb. 5 that it will introduce new prices in 45 products such as milk, yogurt and other dairy products, in which the retail prices will rise between 3 and 8.3 percent.
Meiji Co. also said it will raise prices, in which the retail prices will increase between 2.3 and 4.7 percent.
Japanese dairy farmers face a challenging environment due to rising feed prices, while production of raw milk has continued to drop amid the country’s declining farmer population.