The nation's soft drink market shrank by 0.2 percent to 4.9 trillion yen in fiscal 2002, Yano Research Institute said in a report Wednesday.
In a breakdown of the market, which includes milk, the mineral water segment fared best, soaring 13.3 percent to 140.43 billion yen during the year, the market research company said.
The sports drink segment rose 7.8 percent to 270.64 billion yen, while the green tea segment expanded 7.1 percent to 548.18 billion yen, it said.
The research agency said the market shrank on a value basis despite an increase in combined output because beverage makers engaged in severe price-cutting competition.
The agency surveyed 30 major soft drink makers, milk products makers and 50 vending machine operators between July and September.