Fujifilm Announces Temporary Unavailability of Color Neg/Reversal Films in Japan in 135 and 120

[BAP888]

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.

 

[Kino]

I hope the price of Velvia and Provia doesn't leap through the stratosphere...

 

[Beverly Hills]

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.

...aha, that happened completely unpredictably - didn't it ?
but nobody really expected that..!!!

 

[Photomultiplier]

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.

fun fact: almost had a heart attack this morning when i saw the announcment until i got it translated

 

[BAP888]

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.

True - I think most of the Fuji doom-and-gloom stems from how opaque they have been in the past (and still are, to an extent).

If they really wanted to make everyone feel better they'd give some YouTuber a tour of their production facility (perhaps putting to rest the persistent rumors that "Fuji hasn't coated any film in X years").

 

[DREW WILEY]

Kodak has also been flippy-floppy opaque, or at least contradictory, many times in the past. But at the moment, its own 35mm canistered products are up and running again. 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. I shoot mostly 120 and sheet film anyway, which hasn't been as volatile in a "trendy" sense, and with users more accustomed to buying reserve amounts to tide them through the inevitable leaner times. As long as I can remember, there has been one kind of shortage or another of a favorite film or paper at a certain point, and many outright discontinuances. We adapt.

 

[grat]

B&H has some Fuji 400 coming "soon" lacking the usual exemplary adjectives, and it appears to be made in USA, and distributed from Valhalla, NY.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1759047-REG/fujifilm_600022184_400_color_negative_film.html

 

[CMoore]

I hope the price of Velvia and Provia doesn't leap through the stratosphere...

I am afraid that ship has sailed.

But yes.... i hear you my friend. I have had a healthy (or unhealthy as it were) addiction to Provia for several years.
I think i have 2 or 3 rolls of Provia remaining.
Afraid to look at circa 2022 prices

 

[Sirius Glass]

I was never able to get Portra or UltraColor from FujiFilm.

 

[Paul Howell]

As Fuji has been selling rebranded Kodak film here in the U.S and Europe for a couple of years, might be the end. I did buy some gray market Fuji 200 from Freestyle last year, likely the purchase of color film I will make, but it will be sad if Fuji cannot or will not return with new product.

 

[Beverly Hills]

I was never able to get Portra or UltraColor from FujiFilm.

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............!

 

[Beverly Hills]

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.

+ 1 ....that's exactly why..

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

They stopped Velvia 50 in large format previously. I think the other shoe is dropping.

 

[Sirius Glass]

They stopped Velvia 50 in large format previously. I think the other shoe is dropping.

If it is a person, then there could be a second shoe, however if it is a millipede ...

 

[mshchem]

Remain calm.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Remain calm.

​

]We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!
We will all be killed!​

 

[dscottjorgenson]

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.

 

[dscottjorgenson]

By the way, one reason this might have been announced as Japan-only at present, is because Japan is a huge market in itself for these films, and they are packaged separately specially for that market. So the domestic and international distribution channels are, I would guess, separate. And if the domestic channel happened to be closer to empty than the international market, so that domestic orders can't be fulfilled without actual further production - while the international channel still has existing stock so orders can still be fulfilled out of that stock - that would explain the current announcement. As international orders continue and eventually dry up that channel too, I would expect the order halt to be extended to the international side as well. Just speculating. Hopefully the supply issues resolve themselves sooner than later!

 

[Agulliver]

I am sure there will be commentators, including one prominent UK retailer, trumpeting that this is the demise of Fuji film production and that it proves what they've been saying for some ten years now....that Fuji are exiting the film market.

Hopefully the doom-mongerers are wrong, as they have been on every occasion in the past.

Fuji are rather "opaque" in their statements.....that's just Japanese business culture. This statement is actually more clear than we usually get from them.

Fuji do tweak some of their colour films for Japanese/Asian skin tones so there may be Japan-specific issues for some films.

At this point, rather than shout and throw our toys at them....it might be better to encourage them to resume when possible by saying how much we like and miss their film products. Fuji Superia Xtra has long been my favourite colour negative film. Kodak Ultramax is very good, but I'd rather Fuji.

 

[Agulliver]

And yes, already some other places where I discuss film photography are announcing that this proves they were correct in believing the rumour that fuji haven't actually made any film for years and just froze it all.

They believe their case is now proven beyond doubt and are posting gravestones with "FujiFilm" written on them. I hope they are proved wrong.

 

[Photomultiplier]

As i said before, their current wording is a huge improvement over the past and if they really wanted to stop completely, they would not need to make lame excuses for years but could do so immediately. There is no one they are accountable to in this regard.
They make huge revenues with other business sectors and for sure are not dependent on still film.

If a company sees that they cannot sustain a product line any longer, they drop it. But they wouldn't make a "plan" on how to "exit" this business for over a decade. After all, it is just film and not military electronics with contracts and obligations over +20 years....
There is nothing that would prevent them from saying "thats it, we are done".

But the very fact that they issue a statement like this, probably is an indication that they care about it and i am grateful for that.

I am not saying that i am not worried (actually i am since 2020 when i started again with photography), but we should not let ourselves get carried away because of this.

Fuji's typical japanese way of doing things and to communicate, leads to FUD behavior in consumers.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

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.

I hope you're right.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Don't they [manufacturer their films in different countries? Maybe the production is fine in Thailand let's say if that's where the rest of the world get Fuji film but not OK where made in and for the Japanese market.

 

[brbo]

Don't they [manufacturer their films in different countries?

No.


(except when they use Kodak)

 

[Alex Benjamin]

They believe their case is now proven beyond doubt and are posting gravestones with "FujiFilm" written on them. I hope they are proved wrong.

If not, we'd have to re-title this thread "Is Fujifilm dead?". That would put it in line with the current Photrio Zeitgeist, where everything seem to be dying faster than in the natural world...