Decline in Commercial Demand and Increase in Household Stay-at-Home Demand Amid COVID-19

「On the sales front, demand, particularly from the food-service industry, showed an upward trend, driven by the recovery in inbound tourism and other factors.」

「On the sales front, demand from the food-service industry showed an upward trend, driven in part by an increase in inbound tourism.」

「Demand from the food-service industry continued to increase as foot traffic recovered, including inbound tourism.」

「On the sales front, demand, particularly from the food-service industry, increased as foot traffic recovered from the pandemic, including a recovery in inbound tourism.」

「Sales for commercial applications recovered as more people went out following the reopening of the economy, while sales volume for beverage applications increased because of the extremely hot summer.」

「Sales volume of saccharification products increased, mainly for beverages, as foot traffic recovered following the reclassification of COVID-19 from Category 2 to Category 5 and demand was expected to increase with favorable weather during the extended holiday period. However, there were periods when demand declined as higher prices strengthened consumers' preference for saving. Sales volume for commercial applications, including food-service, also increased as commercial demand showed signs of recovery, resulting in an overall increase in sales volume of saccharification products.」

「Demand for food-grade starch showed signs of recovery as social and economic activity resumed, but overall demand for starch for papermaking declined, resulting in a decrease in sales volume of starch products.」

「On the sales front, foot traffic recovered as economic activity that had stagnated because of the spread of COVID-19 resumed and restrictions on activities were eased. As socioeconomic activity moved toward normalization, product sales volume showed an upward trend.」

「Sales volume of saccharification products increased as beverage demand rose with more opportunities to go out, favorable weather during the extended holiday period and continued high temperatures in summer, while commercial demand also recovered as restaurant operating hours were extended.」

「Although demand for starch used in information paper continued to decline because of the digitization of newspapers and magazines and the established shift to working from home, sales volume of starch products for papermaking increased compared with the same quarter of the previous year. Sales volume of saccharification products also increased, as demand for beverages rose with the recovery in foot traffic following the easing of restrictions on activities, favorable weather during the extended holiday period and continued high temperatures in summer, while commercial demand recovered as restaurant operating hours were extended.」

「In terms of sales, demand for starch products used in flyers and brochures showed signs of recovery as social and economic activity normalized following a decline in COVID-19 cases. However, sales volumes of starch for papermaking fell from the same quarter of the previous year because the digitalization of newspapers and magazines progressed and overall paper production declined. Sales volumes of saccharification products increased as demand for beverages rose with the easing of restrictions on activities and favorable weather during the May holiday period, while commercial demand recovered as restaurant operating hours were extended.」

「In terms of sales, sales volumes of starch products increased from the same quarter of the previous year, as demand for paper used in brochures, flyers and office copy paper was beginning to recover from the sharp decline in the previous fiscal year. Sales volumes of saccharification products were also trending upward following a gradual recovery in demand as the food-service industry resumed operations after the lifting of the state of emergency in October. However, sales volumes remained below the same quarter of the previous year because the Company was unable to make up for sluggish consumption during the period of measures such as the state of emergency and weak beverage sales caused by adverse weather including prolonged rain.」

「On the sales front, restrictions on economic activity continued, particularly in urban areas, as the state of emergency was repeatedly extended. Although sales were affected by lower demand for paper, including brochures, flyers and copy paper used in offices, sales volume of starch products for papermaking increased slightly as paper demand began to recover from the sharp decline in the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile, stay-at-home consumption remained firm as the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games were held without spectators and watched from home, but sales volume of saccharification products declined because of weak demand for commercial products amid restaurant closures and shorter hours, as well as the effects of prolonged rain and other adverse weather conditions.」

「Although demand for household alcoholic beverages, seasonings, and other products remained firm as people stayed at home, demand for saccharification products used in commercial products such as alcoholic beverages declined due to restaurant closures and shorter operating hours.」

「Sales of starch products for papermaking declined substantially year on year as travel and other activity continued to decrease amid the spread of restrictions on going out, reducing demand for brochures and flyers, while the established shift to working from home reduced office use of copy paper. Sales of saccharification products declined because demand for products used in commercial beverages and alcoholic beverages continued to fall owing to event cancellations, capacity restrictions, restaurant closures and shorter hours. However, sales increased year on year as sales of saccharification products, which had been sluggish in the same period of the previous year, recovered on the expansion of stay-at-home consumption of household alcoholic beverages and seasonings.」

「Demand for saccharification products used in commercial products such as beverages and alcoholic beverages continued to decline due to the cancellation of outdoor events, capacity restrictions, and restaurant closures and shortened operating hours, resulting in lower revenue. However, sales increased from the same quarter of the previous year as stay-at-home consumption of alcoholic beverages and seasonings for household use expanded, and sales of saccharification products, which had been sluggish in the same quarter of the previous year, recovered.」

「Demand for saccharification products used in beverages and alcoholic beverages for commercial applications declined because of event cancellations, capacity restrictions and restaurant closures and shortened hours, resulting in lower sales. However, sales increased year on year as sales grew on continued expansion in stay-at-home consumption of alcoholic beverages and seasonings for household use, and sales of saccharification products, which had been sluggish in the same quarter of the previous year, recovered.」

「On the sales front, demand for food-service and other commercial products declined substantially because demand for eating out slumped amid the closure of restaurants nationwide and calls to refrain from going out during the pandemic. As a result, sales of saccharification products used in beverages and alcoholic beverages for commercial applications declined. Demand for various travel brochures also fell as people refrained from going out, while the established shift to working from home reduced demand for paper, leading to lower sales of starch products for papermaking. Meanwhile, stay-at-home consumption of alcoholic beverages, seasonings and frozen foods for household use expanded, increasing sales of the saccharification and starch products used as their ingredients.」