https://www.fujifilm.com/ffis/ja/news/126 (Link is in Japanese)
Fuji announced that starting today (March 29, 2023), they would stop accepting orders for color negative and color reversal films in 135/120 formats, at least for the Japanese domestic market. This includes Fujicolor 100, Fujicolor Superia Premium 400, and Fujicolor Superia X-tra 400 in 135, and Velvia 50, Velvia 100, and Provia 100F in 135/120. The announcement claims the company is dealing with difficulties obtaining raw materials. No indication as to whether this also applies to film sold outside of Japan or how long it may last.
The announcement makes the issue appear to be a temporary, Japan-only issue, but since it's Fuji, people on Reddit are concerned that this could be the beginning of the end.
I have no idea how Fuji's production and distribution is set up (so take this with a giant grain of salt), but it seems strange to me that they wouldn't be able to supply Japan, but that the rest of the world would be unaffected, particularly for global products like Superia X-tra 400 and the slide films. It seems more likely to me that the announcement has more to do with low inventory for Japanese distribution, and I fear that once inventory elsewhere dips below a certain point we'll see similar announcements for other markets (and sheet film formats).
Fuji makes the best reversal films in my opinion (not to mention being more affordable than E100), so if this is the beginning of the final plunge for Fuji's non-Instax film production, I'll be deeply sad.
Fuji saying "hey guys, there are some issues and we are working to get them sorted out" is actually a improvement over how they acted in the past, where they would have said "discontinued" and that's it.
I hope the price of Velvia and Provia doesn't leap through the stratosphere...
Lucky you, if you can muster just a little more patience, you'll soon be getting a whole host of other beloved Kodak films exclusive to Fuji.........I was never able to get Portra or UltraColor from FujiFilm.
+ 1 ....that's exactly why..Supply chain issues are a worldwide problem these days due to the triple whammie of covid, deteriorating international trade relations, and a serious European war going on.
They stopped Velvia 50 in large format previously. I think the other shoe is dropping.
Remain calm.
They stopped Velvia 50 in large format previously. I think the other shoe is dropping.
Well, the key difference here is that when Fujifilm did that, and when they have made similar decisions to stop production of other films, they have never minced any words about it. They simply came straight out and said the film was discontinued. That's not at all how they've worded their press release in this case. They've plainly shown in the past that they have no qualms about making a discontinuation decision and then announcing it as such, so if that's what's happening here, why all the beating about the bush. It serves them no purpose.
I'm inclined to instead believe the simpler hypothesis, which is that their press releases regarding film availability tell the plain truth as it stands at the time. This press release says the halt in orders is to be temporary and Japan-only (at least at present), but they don't know for how long, and it is due to supply factors outside of their control (which is why they don't know how long). So I think the best hypothesis is that this is where it stands; they want to restart orders and production but can't say when.
Now, if this supply situation continues for a long time to come, that's not to say they won't make a decision to discontinue then - and will plainly announce it when made, as has been their prior practice in every other case. But there's no reason to think that decision has been made, or is close to being made, yet.
Don't they [manufacturer their films in different countries?
They believe their case is now proven beyond doubt and are posting gravestones with "FujiFilm" written on them. I hope they are proved wrong.
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