China

Retail sales of butter saw accelerated growth in current value terms in 2023. Growth was boosted by the lifting of pandemic-related measures, which saw a revival in offline consumption, combined with an enhanced consumer awareness of Western cuisine.…

Prolonged COVID-19 caseloads and associated lockdowns continued to be seen in China in 2022. Fears about the pandemic have had a negative effect on birth rates in the country, as strained medical resources grew more concerning. The declining birth…

With the lifting of China’s “zero Covid” policies, local consumers have been gradually returning to their regular lifestyles. As they resume normal routines, the time spent at home is decreasing, resulting in declining retail volume sales of fish and…

Retail volume sales of small cooking appliances are expected to decline by a high single-digit rate in 2023. In the post-pandemic era, demand for small cooking appliances has weakened further, mainly because consumers are cooking less at home. With…

Retail volume sales of personal care appliances are set to rebound slightly in 2023, after seeing a couple of years of decline, thanks to the increasing demand for personal care post-pandemic. As all pandemic restrictions were lifted at the end of…

Entering 2023, the easing of COVID-19 restrictions boosted consumer confidence instantly, as people were able to travel with peace of mind, without the fear of being put into arbitrary lockdowns. However, the prospects for the housing market have…

Desktops and laptops in China are expected to witness a decline in retail volume sales in 2023, due to several factors. The prevailing economic downturn, coupled with high inflation, has resulted in reduced disposable incomes for consumers, impacting…

Fuelled by a significant rise in volume sales of split air conditioners, air treatment products in China is set to return to growth in 2023, after seeing a single-digit decline the year before. However, air purifiers is set to maintain a significant…

Meals and soups is set to see a noticeable slowdown in its retail current value growth rate in 2023 compared with 2022, and is expected to turn to retail volume decline. The primary reason for this is the removal of the zero-COVID policy, which has…

As of July 2023, 10 pre-paid card issuers had had their payment clearing license revoked, according to PBOC (People’s Bank of China). In fact, the majority of these issuers voluntarily cancelled their licenses, affected by stringent government…

The resumption of offline activities and offline traffic is bringing back the buzz for nurturing products (also known as “yang sheng”), a major component of herbal/traditional dietary supplements. COVID-19 restrictions weighed down sales of…

In 2022, sweet spreads continued to record positive growth in its packaging unit volumes in China. However, health concerns, given further impetus by the COVID-19 pandemic, were having a negative impact on sales as consumers shied away from…

With advances in technology regarding multi-functional in-vehicle systems, the improvement of industrial policies, and consumers’ increasing demand for in-car entertainment equipment, the penetration of pre-installed in-car entertainment has grown,…

On the one hand, toilet paper has become more prevalent in public spaces in China, including shopping centres, restaurants, hotels, airports and railway stations. This is, in part, a result of the government-led “toilet revolution” which aims to…

Protein has been regarded as important nutrition for boosting immunity since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020. This has led to the boom of high protein claims in dairy products and alternatives, and has been driving new product developments with a…

In recent years, there has been a notable surge in health-consciousness amongst Chinese consumers. This positive trend can be attributed, in part, to a concerted effort by the government through its "Three Reduce" campaign, which aims to curtail the…

Value sales of fine wines/champagne and spirits grew by 9% to total CNY829.6 billion in 2023, boosted by consumers’ appetite for experiences and enjoyment after the pandemic. Socialising over a drink with friends remains a priority for many,…

In 2023, overall cooking ingredients and meals is expected to see retail volume and current value declines. This is primarily due to the Chinese government’s removal of the zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022. With no more lockdown measures in…

The performance of rice, pasta and noodles is expected to show a mixed picture in China in 2023, reflecting changing consumer preferences and market dynamics. Retail volume declines are expected for the main categories, rice and noodles, mainly due…

Oral care packaging remained the largest beauty and personal care packaging category in China in 2022 in terms of retail unit volume sales. Squeezable plastic tubes, folding cartons and blister and strip packs are the main packaging formats used in…