Supplying a wide range of products used by industry and by people in their daily lives.
In its Japan Wholesaling business, which comprises the Group’s core business activities, JP has earned acclaim for its strengths in procuring from domestic and overseas pulp and paper manufacturers and for its sales capabilities, and has been the recipient of unwavering trust from customers since its establishment in 1845. Moreover, in areas that include the handling of non-paper high value-added materials, printing machinery and construction materials, the JP Group is pursuing new possibilities in paper and related product fields.
The JP Group is utilizing its logistic network of warehouses, distributors and processing facilities across Japan to provide a stable supply of products to meet the diverse needs of its customers. The JP Group will continue to contribute to society through its role as a leading logistics company.
In the Japan Wholesaling segment, demand for paper and paperboard, which are our mainstay products, has declined markedly, as the spread of COVID-19 restricted socio-economic activities due to people refraining from going outdoors and an increase in people working from home. Demand for newspaper insert flyers, and pamphlets and posters associated with the holding of events and the like has also declined sharply. Sales of containerboard for general consumer goods, particularly related to e-commerce and processed foods, were robust, while sales for export products declined significantly. Going forward, demand for paper will not be able to avoid the effects of the shrinking market caused by a declining population and the shift to digitalization and paperless systems in society.
Revised paper and paperboard prices are currently being maintained in this segment, which has been an important achievement in terms of prioritizing profitability and efficiency rather than sales volume and market share in the future. Furthermore, in recent years the problem of plastic marine garbage has resulted in a reevaluation of paper’s low environmental impact, and a reconsideration of the new values and roles of papers, including its warmth as a material and the sense of well-being it provides. The Group recognizes the values of paper in this way and will continue to take on the challenge of creating new value while doing its utmost to ensure a stable supply of paper and the maintenance of market conditions.
As a distributor for all paper manufacturers as well as manufacturers of other selected products, we procure products best suited to respond to market needs and also provide the market with a stable supply of publications, catalogues packaging and a wide range of other daily commodities and industrial goods.