I think Fuji is doing with their E-6 and C-41 films what they did with their instant films earlier in this decade. They stop making the product, tear down production, but don't announce that fact until stocks are relatively low and close to the last expiration dates. Now it's these roll films that are already discontinued and never coming back. Buy what you need now knowing that maybe there will be product with expiration dates a few months (not years) younger than what you can get now, but that's it.
With FP3000b (ISO 3200 black and white instant) they announced discontinuance in 2013, with just about every "last" pack having a 2015 expiration date. Boxes were expiration dated fours years from production, so the bulk of what they were selling at discontinuance had been made two years earlier, in 2011. A few boxes dribbled out with 2016 and 2017 dates (2012 and 2013 production), which I would assume was them burning off stocks of chemicals.
With FP100c (ISO 100 color instant) they announced discontinuance in 2016 and the latest boxes seem to be 2018 expiration. I think FP100c is also 4 years from production to expiration, which implies they pulled the plug on it in 2014, more than a year before they announced anything. The timing also explains why when approached about selling the production equipment to another entity they just shrugged and shook their head. You can't sell what you no longer have.
I have a mini-stash of E-6 and Acros 100. I'll enjoy it while it lasts and pray Kodak stays in business. Kodak is the only other company that can produce stock comparable with Fuji.
With FP3000b (ISO 3200 black and white instant) they announced discontinuance in 2013, with just about every "last" pack having a 2015 expiration date. Boxes were expiration dated fours years from production, so the bulk of what they were selling at discontinuance had been made two years earlier, in 2011. A few boxes dribbled out with 2016 and 2017 dates (2012 and 2013 production), which I would assume was them burning off stocks of chemicals.
With FP100c (ISO 100 color instant) they announced discontinuance in 2016 and the latest boxes seem to be 2018 expiration. I think FP100c is also 4 years from production to expiration, which implies they pulled the plug on it in 2014, more than a year before they announced anything. The timing also explains why when approached about selling the production equipment to another entity they just shrugged and shook their head. You can't sell what you no longer have.
I have a mini-stash of E-6 and Acros 100. I'll enjoy it while it lasts and pray Kodak stays in business. Kodak is the only other company that can produce stock comparable with Fuji.