Commerce Wholesale and retail are the key industries of Fukuoka City with the growth rate both in terms of number of employees and annual sales, ranking top among the 13 major cities in Japan. In addition, the market share of these key industries in Fukuoka has grown in recent years, both as a proportional share of Kyushu as well as of Japan market as a whole. As for the wholesale industry in particular, Fukuoka City's share accounts for about 50% of all transactions in Kyushu. With respect to annual sales, Fukuoka City's wholesale industry, valued at about of 17 trillion yen, ranks fourth among the 13 major cities in Japan following Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya; whereas, its retail industry ranks eighth, at about 2 trillion yen.

The industrial structure of Fukuoka City, concentrating on the tertiary industry, shows a different style of development compared to other major cities in Japan. Of the 13 major cities in Japan, Fukuoka City ranks top in terms of the proportion of employees in the tertiary industry, while having the least proportion of employees in the secondary industry. In comparing city's corporate inhabitant tax revenue between 1989 and 1996, Fukuoka City shows a 9.2% decrease, while other cities with a greater dependence on the secondary industry (such as Kawasaki, Yokohama, Osaka and Kitakyushu) show a decrease by as much as 20% to 40%.†

Number of Business Establishments in Major Japanese Cities

* 1996 statistics on business establishments, fiscal 1996 citizens' accounts (1997 comparative statistical table of major cities)

Note: As the gross municipal product does not include the "import tax - others - imputed interests" in each industry section, the added total of each industry section may not be consistent with that actual total.

International Economic Section, Fukuoka City Economic Promotion Bureau Phone: +81-92-711-4323 Fax: +81-92-733-5593 E-mail:seisakuchosei.EPB@city.fukuoka.lg.jp