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(Bloomberg) — Shares of Japanese companies that are especially reliant on China demand plunged after users online in Asia’s biggest economy called for a boycott over the release of treated wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.
Tokyo-based cosmetics firm Shiseido Co. fell as much as 3.3% to a five-month low, on a day when the broader share market gained. Its revenue from China accounts for 30% of the total, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. Shiseido’s local competitors including Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. and Kose Corp. also declined. Department store Takashimaya Co. dropped over 5%, and shoe retailer ABC-Mart Inc. fell more than 3%.
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China said last week that it will suspend seafood imports from Japan, with its foreign ministry saying in a statement that it’s asked Japan to “stop this wrongdoing.” Chinese chat pages have been flooded with posts about boycotting Japanese products, including on Weibo, one of the country’s largest social media platforms.
“The Chinese government’s reaction to treated water has been surprisingly severe,” said Hajime Sakai, chief fund manager at Mito Securities Co. “Local media reports of cancellations of Japan tours and boycotts have raised concerns that the impact on inbound business may spread unexpectedly as China prepares for the travel demand season.”
The reaction from investors reflects public worries, even though the International Atomic Energy Agency said the move is in line with global safety standards and would have a negligible impact on people and the environment.
Signs that consumers are steering clear of Japanese products are especially disappointing for companies that had expected their sales to be bolstered by China’s resumption of group tours to its neighboring nation earlier this month. But the share selloff may be short-lived considering that China’s boycotts haven’t lasted long in the past, according to Asymmetric Advisors Pte strategist Amir Anvarzadeh.
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Boycott List
For now, the boycott is a hot topic online in China. One post on Weibo lists dozens of Japanese brands to avoid buying, including Shiseido, Panasonic, Uniqlo, Mitsubishi, Aeon and Nomura. The post has received more than 10,000 “likes” since it was published on Aug. 24.
“I’ll never buy Japanese cosmetics again, not to mention seafood,” one user identified with a nickname posted on Weibo Monday. “I won’t touch anything where the water source might be tainted.”
But despite the online protests, some analysts say that demand for Japanese products will return after a while, especially when foreign exchange moves have made those goods cheaper for Chinese shoppers.
“Japan’s products are highly sought after by the Chinese tourists and the weak yen is only going to make them more attractive,” said Charu Chanana, a market strategist at Saxo Capital Markets.
—With assistance from Toshiro Hasegawa and Aya Wagatsuma.
(Adds IAEA saying water release is in line with global safety standards in the fifth paragraph.)