Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Last year was pivotal for Yahoo Japan: despite record group performance, GTVs in e-commerce actually fell despite continued strong growth in the sector </li>
<li>In a recent survey, Amazon was the most frequently used e-commerce mall at 49.6%, followed by Rakuten (32%), but Yahoo was far, far below at just 9.8%.</li>
<li>Yahoo Shopping is now not only less popular with consumers, even merchants are dissatisfied – which is saying something when the service is essentially free.</li>
</ul>


Last year was pivotal for Yahoo Japan: despite record group performance, GTVs in e-commerce actually fell despite continued strong growth in the sector 
In a recent survey, Amazon was the most frequently used e-commerce mall at 49.6%, followed by Rakuten (32%), but Yahoo was far, far below at just 9.8%.
Yahoo Shopping is now not only less popular with consumers, even merchants are dissatisfied – which is saying something when the service is essentially free.


Z Holdings: Yahoo Shopping Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

<ul>
<li>The big parcel couriers, Yamato Transport and Sagawa, announced price increases averaging around 10% last month. </li>
<li>Unlike the last big hike in 2017, the latest round is in response to multiple external pressures such as increased costs and a growing labour shortage.</li>
<li>But the constant growth in e-commerce demand remains the most significant factor.</li>
</ul>


The big parcel couriers, Yamato Transport and Sagawa, announced price increases averaging around 10% last month. 
Unlike the last big hike in 2017, the latest round is in response to multiple external pressures such as increased costs and a growing labour shortage.
But the constant growth in e-commerce demand remains the most significant factor.


Yamato and Sagawa Increase Prices as Delivery Volume Increases

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>After stellar growth in 2020, the e-commerce market grew much slower in 2021 but still outpaced all other channels and set the second highest increase in four years.</li>
<li>At this rate, by 2025 e-commerce should become the largest retail channel, overtaking chain stores.</li>
<li>Japan’s easy access to retail stores means shops aren’t about to disappear anytime soon and Japan will become a model for omnichannel retailing with stores still playing a key role.</li>
</ul>


After stellar growth in 2020, the e-commerce market grew much slower in 2021 but still outpaced all other channels and set the second highest increase in four years.
At this rate, by 2025 e-commerce should become the largest retail channel, overtaking chain stores.
Japan’s easy access to retail stores means shops aren’t about to disappear anytime soon and Japan will become a model for omnichannel retailing with stores still playing a key role.


Japanese E-Commerce Big Review: Still Taking Market Share as Omnichannel Becomes the Norm

<ul>
<li>Japan already suffers from a shortage of truck drivers, resulting in both higher wages and solutions such as collaboration between competitors.</li>
<li>The shortage is about to get worse as, in 2024, new rules will restrict truck driver overtime putting pressure on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/yamato-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2:1" rel="noopener">Yamato Holdings (9064 JP)</a> and competitors. </li>
<li>With both demand and supply of e-commerce now so strong, the change in the law should force new solutions to appear quickly.</li>
</ul>


Japan already suffers from a shortage of truck drivers, resulting in both higher wages and solutions such as collaboration between competitors.
The shortage is about to get worse as, in 2024, new rules will restrict truck driver overtime putting pressure on Yamato Holdings (9064 JP) and competitors. 
With both demand and supply of e-commerce now so strong, the change in the law should force new solutions to appear quickly.


Japanese E-Commerce to Struggle Against New Laws

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>Management has cut its FY23 EBITDA target from its long-term goal of ¥390bn to c. ¥363bn as its core ad and eCommerce performance gets weaker</li>
<li>Advertising revenue fell 1% YoY whilst eCommerce volumes (GTV) on the core third-party marketplace Yahoo!Shopping were also down significantly</li>
<li>The outlook for FY23 is further blurred by management changes to address business challenges and deeper LINE/Yahoo integration.  We are lowering our target price to ¥425</li>
</ul>


Management has cut its FY23 EBITDA target from its long-term goal of ¥390bn to c. ¥363bn as its core ad and eCommerce performance gets weaker
Advertising revenue fell 1% YoY whilst eCommerce volumes (GTV) on the core third-party marketplace Yahoo!Shopping were also down significantly
The outlook for FY23 is further blurred by management changes to address business challenges and deeper LINE/Yahoo integration.  We are lowering our target price to ¥425


Z Holdings (Neutral) - Q3 22 Results Reaction: Lofty EBITDA Targets Cut on Erosion in Core Business

Japan

ASKUL Corporation sells office equipment products to medium and small sized business offices via the Internet and facsimiles.  The Company provides next day delivery services throughout Japan.

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Askul Corp (2678 JP)

Z Holdings: Yahoo Shopping Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

Z Holding's core e-commerce business is in trouble. Amazon and Rakuten are pulling further ahead and even merchants (who pay nothing) are unhappy....

Michael Causton

Yamato and Sagawa Increase Prices as Delivery Volume Increases

Prices for e-commerce deliveries are on the rise, at a time when inflation is hurting trade, but demand is likely to mean further pressures on...

Michael Causton

Japanese E-Commerce to Struggle Against New Laws

Yamato owns about 50% of Japan's delivery business and has long been a solid performer but pressures from a shortage of drivers is about to get...

Michael Causton

Z Holdings (Neutral) - Q3 22 Results Reaction: Lofty EBITDA Targets Cut on Erosion in Core Business

We have another winter surprise from ZHD as weakness in both advertising sales and eCommerce will keep the company from meeting its FY23 EBITDA target

Kirk Boodry

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Z Holdings: Yahoo Shopping Falling Further Behind Amazon and Rakuten

Z Holding's core e-commerce business is in trouble. Amazon and Rakuten are pulling further ahead and even merchants (who pay nothing) are unhappy....

Michael Causton

Yamato and Sagawa Increase Prices as Delivery Volume Increases

Prices for e-commerce deliveries are on the rise, at a time when inflation is hurting trade, but demand is likely to mean further pressures on...

Michael Causton

Japanese E-Commerce Big Review: Still Taking Market Share as Omnichannel Becomes the Norm

Japanese e-commerce continues to take more share from other retail channels but Japan is developing a sophisticated omnichannel model where stores...

Michael Causton

Japanese E-Commerce to Struggle Against New Laws

Yamato owns about 50% of Japan's delivery business and has long been a solid performer but pressures from a shortage of drivers is about to get...

Michael Causton

Z Holdings (Neutral) - Q3 22 Results Reaction: Lofty EBITDA Targets Cut on Erosion in Core Business

We have another winter surprise from ZHD as weakness in both advertising sales and eCommerce will keep the company from meeting its FY23 EBITDA target

Kirk Boodry