Tokyo, Feb 06: Japanese demand for coffee beans likely hit a record high for the fourth straight year in 2002, bolstered by consumption of home-use coffee and the rapid expansion of coffee shop chains, an industry group said recently. The All Japan Coffee Association, a coffee roasters' group, estimates domestic demand for green, or unprocessed, coffee beans grew 4.4% year-on-year to a record 439,740 tonnes compared to an estimated 421,309 tonnes in 2001.

The association based its estimate on the nation's total imports of green coffee, roasted coffee, instant coffee and coffee extract last year. Japan, traditionally a tea-drinking nation, is the world's third-biggest importer of coffee beans after the United States and Germany.
"Consumption of home-use coffee, including regular and instant coffee, has been growing steadily," said Masao Yamashita, the association's executive director. "Expanding coffee shop chains have contributed to the growth."
Yamashita said demand was also lifted by increased production of instant coffee in Japan, after Nestle SA, the world's largest food company, shifted part of its instant coffee output from Australia to Japan last year for more efficient operation of its production facilities. Bureau Report