Malaysia

Heated tobacco products saw very strong, if slower, retail current growth and positive retail volume growth in 2022. The competitive price of heated tobacco when compared with cigarettes afforded the category good growth potential. In addition, wider…

Having experienced a drop in retail volume and current value sales in 2020, in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, cigars and cigarillos saw a return to growth in 2021. The rebound in retail volume and current value growth continued in…

Overall, economy and premium cigarettes gained retail volume share at the expense of mid-priced brands in 2022. The main reason for this trend was derived from high inflation, which drove high living costs and informed expenditure on cigarettes. Many…

The continued relaxation of restrictions on international travel introduced to contain the spread of COVID-19 has served to strengthen consumers’ confidence in travelling and boosted cross border travel, which was allowed freely towards the end of…

Consumers in Malaysia got used to wearing spectacles instead of contact lenses during the COVID-19 crisis, when the marked reduction in face-to-face social contact weakened their interest in wearing contact lenses for reasons of appearance and vanity…

The reopening of the market with the removal of COVID-19 related restrictions has impacted eyewear in Malaysia, with mixed developments. The sunglasses category was a prominent beneficiary of the shift towards more normal lifestyles. The resumption…

Consumers in Malaysia are tending to favour frequent replacement lenses over daily disposable lenses for economic reasons. Having been hit by the very high rates of post-pandemic inflation, consumers are facing significant rises in the cost of…

Malaysia’s economic freedom is ‘moderately free’ and the state is addressing corruption. However, the new government has yet to prove its democratic credentials. The economy grew extremely strongly in 2022 and, although output expansion is expected…

Retail sales of homeware in 2022 returned to pre-pandemic levels (in constant 2022 prices), following a steep decline in 2020. During the outbreak of COVID-19, a retail value decline was recorded in all areas, with consumers being uncertain about…

Given interest rate hikes and inflationary pressures, Malaysians became increasingly cost-conscious in 2022. Nevertheless, the increased appetite among Malaysians to renovate their homes was still prevalent, often spiking during festivities, as…

Home furnishings witnessed a marked decline in sales in 2020, with all categories except home office furniture and storage furniture seeing negative growth. This was largely attributed to the fact that COVID-19 restrictions led to the postponement of…

The home and garden market witnessed faster growth in 2022 compared to the previous year, underpinned by the immense consumer appetite among Malaysians to furnish their homes and create aesthetically pleasing environments, especially during the…

Retail sales of gardening were much higher in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels, driven by the increased interest among Malaysians to improve the liveability of their homes and interact with nature amidst hectic urban lifestyles. However, growth…

Prior to the pandemic, volume sales of home care products in Malaysia had been growing due to rapid urbanisation and an increased awareness of the need to maintain a hygienic living environment. The pandemic accelerated growth in the category in 2020…

Malaysia offers a favourable environment for business operations, ranking among the top third in the Economic Freedom ranking. The country’s businesses benefit from robust economic expansion, numerous free trade agreements, strategic location and…

Over 2022, Malaysia recorded substantial economic growth, driven by increasing public and private consumption, capital investment and strong trade performance. Although inflation increased over the year, it remained among the lowest globally as…

In 2021, Asia Pacific ranked first globally in terms of production output of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, with a turnover of USD857 billion. Over 2021-2030, the region is expected to record the fastest production growth globally,…

Asia Pacific remained the largest global producer of food, beverages and tobacco in 2021, with sales valued at USD3,809 billion. With the release of pent-up demand, the industry’s turnover witnessed an increase in 2021. Going forward, expanding…

With a turnover of USD365.8 billion in 2021, Asia Pacific was the world’s second largest region for recreation, entertainment and arts. Over the next decade, the region’s entertainment industry is poised to grow at the fastest rate, nearly closing…

The report examines key factors in supply chain risks in metals, energy and agricultural commodities. Production, market supply concentration and political risks analysis can help to better identify potential risks and prepare for potential…