Key Facts
• Rice prices rose to 4,251 yen for 5 kg, up 800 yen from last year.
• Toyama-based Taiwa Seiki sold 200 home rice milling machines in just half a month.
• The machines, priced at approximately 100,000 yen, can mill 1 cup of rice in 1 minute.
• Increased demand for brown rice as a cheaper alternative to polished rice.
• Taiwa Seiki holds a 50% domestic market share for coin-operated rice milling machines.
• Sales of home milling machines increased by 30% compared to last year.
• Sales of industrial rice milling machines, capable of processing 600 kg of brown rice per hour, rose by 25% year-on-year.
• Consumers and producers are turning to rice milling machines as a solution to rising rice prices.
• Taiwa Seiki plans to increase production of both home and industrial rice milling machines.
Summary
The surge in rice prices, now at 4,251 yen for 5 kg, has led to a growing demand for rice milling machines. Toyama-based Taiwa Seiki, a leading manufacturer with a 50% domestic market share in coin-operated rice milling machines, has seen unprecedented sales. The company sold 200 home milling machines, priced at 100,000 yen each, in just half a month, marking a 30% increase in sales compared to last year. Industrial machines, capable of milling 600 kg of brown rice per hour, also saw a 25% sales boost. Rising rice prices have prompted consumers to purchase cheaper brown rice and mill it themselves, while producers invest in equipment to meet demand. Taiwa Seiki plans to ramp up production to address this growing trend.
