Japan Food Sector: What Nielsen data say about the US instant noodle market (July 2026)

Research evidence excerpt

Japan Food Sector: What Nielsen data say about the US instant noodle market (July 2026)

Global Research

21 July 2026ab

Japan Food Sector Equities

JapanWhat Nielsen data say about the US instant

noodle market (July 2026) Food & Beverage

Rei Ihara

Analyst

rei.ihara@ubs.com

Japanese firms weak in US instant noodle market in July +81-3-5208 6227

We use the latest Nielsen data to analyse the US instant noodle market and sector Jae Hyung Choi

company conditions in July 2026. Our conclusions are as follows: (1) US instant noodle Analyst

sales volumes in July rose 3% yoy and improved slightly from June, but this was driven by jaehyung.choi@ubs.com

Korean firms. (2) Although new plants for both Toyo Suisan and Nissin Foods should +82-2-3702 8172

have started operations in June, Japanese companies showed no strength even in July, Ryunosuke Watanabe

with sales volume for Toyo Suisan in particular continuing a negative trend. Associate Analyst

ryunosuke.watanabe@ubs.com

Toyo Suisan: sales promotions have not been restarted yet +81-3-5208 6243

At Toyo Suisan, sales volume fell 5% yoy in January-March 2026 and was down 4% in

April-June and 5% in July as declines continued. For unit selling prices, while they rose

14% yoy in January-March 2026, they increased 12% in April-June and 12% again in

July alone, and they remained at a high levels. We had forecast that the company would

resume sales promotions in June along with the startup of a new factory, but it appears

the company has not restarted sales promotions at this point, given weak sales volumes,

while unit prices remain at high levels.

Nissin Foods: volume appears to be recovering, but only because previous year

was low

At Nissin Foods, sales volume grew 2% yoy in January-March 2026, rose 1% in April-