Compact camera shipments increase for the first time in seven years

The Yomiuri Shimbun has published an article about recent market trends for compact cameras. Here is the summary via Digicameinfo:

• Compact digital cameras, which have been pushed aside by smartphones, are surprisingly gaining popularity. Domestic shipments in 2024 are expected to increase slightly for the first time in seven years. In addition to their ease of use, they are also being reassessed for their ease of creating creative and distinctive images when posting photos on social media.
• Bic Camera’s Yurakucho store expanded its compact digital camera sales area in July. The store began receiving a noticeable number of inquiries about the product around 2012.
• According to the Camera and Imaging Products Association, domestic shipments of compact digital cameras have been gradually declining since peaking in 2007. By 2011, they had fallen to one-twentieth of their peak. After that, they began to attract attention, especially from young people, due to posts on social media, and in 2012, shipments increased by 47,000 units to 439,000 units, the first increase in seven years.
• Manufacturers are also seeing this as a good opportunity. In April, Canon released its first new compact digital camera in six years. Canon Executive Officer Manabu Kato analyzed, “The compact digital camera market is extremely active due to the growing need for video shooting and growing demand from young people.” He said that they are unable to keep up with demand and are on backorder, and added, “We would like to increase production and supply.”