According to the statistics of the Japanese credit research agency Imperial Data Bank, from January 2018 to July 2022, there were 558 cases of "high price bankruptcy" of Japanese companies, of which 116 cases occurred from January to July 2022. There were 31 cases, a year-on-year increase of 82.4%.

Imperial Data Bank predicts that the relevant data in August may reach a new high.

"High price bankruptcy" has become an important issue faced by the Japanese government and enterprises.

　　"High price bankruptcy" refers to the situation in which enterprises cannot transfer costs smoothly due to pressure from customers, driven by the "increase in purchase prices" of crude oil, fuel, raw materials, etc. .

From the perspective of industry categories, according to the statistics of the Imperial Data Bank, among the enterprises with "high price bankruptcy" in 2022, the transportation industry that will be greatly affected by the increase in fuel prices ranks first, with 33 cases, accounting for about 30%; There are also construction and wholesale industries that are affected by rising prices of wood and other materials, as well as beverage and food-related companies that are more affected by rising world prices of wheat and oils and fats.

It is worth noting that about 80% of the "high price bankruptcy" companies are small and medium-sized enterprises with debts of less than 500 million yen.

　　The analysis believes that the phenomenon of "high price bankruptcy" in Japanese companies is the result of the combined effect of high operating costs and people's living pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises under the background of high prices.

Since the beginning of this year, affected by events such as the Ukraine crisis and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike, Japan has experienced a shortage of energy, the yen has depreciated sharply, and fuel, raw material, and logistics costs have skyrocketed.

Since last year, the world wheat and oil prices have continued to rise, and the rise in logistics costs, packaging materials and electricity costs caused by high oil prices has greatly increased the operating costs of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Not only that, this year Japan raised the minimum hourly wage, which further increased the labor cost of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition, with the depreciation of the yen and the shortage of energy, the living pressure of ordinary people has increased accordingly, and companies do not support price increases due to rising operating costs. In order to ensure operations, small and medium-sized enterprises can only control the transfer of costs to the maximum extent.

Operating costs continue to increase, but it is difficult to raise prices, and it is a helpless move to close the door and thank customers in the end.

　　Faced with the impact of "high price bankruptcy", the Japanese government has taken measures to deal with it, but the actual effect remains to be tested.

According to Japanese media reports, the government recently held a meeting of the "Comprehensive Headquarters for Prices, Wages, and Living". Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued instructions to relevant ministers to maintain the sales price of imported wheat and curb fuel prices after October.

Fumio Kishida said, "We will take uninterrupted bold measures."

In terms of cost pass-through measures, through two "price negotiation promotion months" in March and September each year, price negotiation between orders is promoted, and the cost increase is appropriately passed on.

The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry conducted a follow-up survey on about 150,000 subcontracted small and medium-sized enterprises regarding price negotiation and transfer. The shipper who has problems such as changes shall provide administrative guidance.

　　However, a survey conducted by the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency from early May to early June showed that among subcontracting small and medium-sized enterprises, only 13.8% of the companies that achieved the "full cost pass-through" of the cost increase for nearly six months, "10% to 30%" 22.9% of the companies left and right accounted for the highest proportion; 22.6% of the companies were "completely unable to achieve cost pass-through".

The survey results prove that although the government is strengthening its response measures, the phenomenon of poor cost transfer has not been alleviated.

Regarding the essential reason why cost shifting cannot be promoted in inter-company transactions, the officials of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry pointed out: "The idea of ​​'reducing costs is the source of competitiveness of Japan's manufacturing industry' is deeply rooted."

　　Regarding the "high price bankruptcy," Hanhiro Kamishi, head of the Information and Integration Department of the Imperial Data Bank, expressed concern, saying, "This is only a prelude. From this autumn to the end of the year, due to factors such as high raw material and energy costs, this phenomenon will continue to increase. will continue".

In addition, in addition to "high price bankruptcy", due to the severe situation of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Japan and other reasons, corporate bankruptcy cases caused by employee turnover and recruitment difficulties have also reached a new high. Imperial Data Bank said that in the future, "understaffed bankruptcy" may also emerge in an endless stream. .

However, the way to protect labor by increasing labor costs will in turn increase the operating costs of enterprises.

How to coordinate the common interests of the people and enterprises in various measures of the Japanese government has become the key to solving the problem of "high price bankruptcy".

Chen Yitong