Asia Pacific

The smoking population in Hong Kong has been steadily declining thanks to the strong smoking cessation campaigns implemented by the government over the past decades. Through education and banning the sale of e-cigarettes in 2022, the government has…

Consumers in Hong Kong have been increasingly gravitating towards herbal/traditional products for both OTC and vitamins and dietary supplements, as a result of greater demand for natural alternatives and more consumers taking greater control of their…

In Hong Kong, the increased frequency and time spent using 3C products, (in particular, computers, smartphones and tablets) among people of all generations has led to a growing need for effective eye care solutions. As individuals spend more time…

With traveling restrictions and social distancing measures fully lifted, residents in Hong Kong were gradually resuming their normal social lives in 2023. This resulted in an increase dining out and social gatherings, with people now able to meet up…

2023 saw increased interest in women’s health and beauty supplements in Hong Kong as pandemic restrictions were removed, with more opportunities for consumers to go out and socialise. Female consumers are increasingly attracted to supplements with…

Dermatologicals in Hong Kong saw continued positive growth in 2023. Steady growth in antifungals was driven by medicated shampoos, vaginal antifungals and other dermatologicals such as topical allergy remedies/antihistamines, with hair loss…

The removal of mask-wearing and social distancing measures in March 2023 led to rising demand for cough, cold and allergy remedies as respiratory infections increased. Since February 2020, local seasonal influenza in Hong Kong has remained at a low…

Post-pandemic 2023 saw lifted restrictions lead to the return of tourists to Hong Kong and a rebound in tourism consumption, particularly for OTC products. Mainland Chinese tourists, who were once a key consumer group for these products, began to…

The reopened border between mainland China and Hong Kong in early 2023 had significant implications for the demand of analgesic remedies within the city, which rose considerably. This growth can be attributed to a shortage of analgesic remedies…

Pre-paid card transactions witnessed healthy double-digit growth in transaction volumes over 2021-2022. However, in 2023, the category witnessed a decline in volume of transactions as consumers became increasingly inclined to choose alternative…

A government-led financial inclusion initiative enticed a burgeoning population to embrace the formal banking sector, resulting in further uptake of financial cards, in particular, debit cards, in 2023. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)…

A government-led financial inclusion initiative is enticing a burgeoning population to embrace the formal banking sector, which is acting in favour of further driving debit card penetration. The government’s financial inclusion initiative, also known…

Credit cards in India witnessed healthy demand in 2023 as consumers looked to bridge their income gap through smart spending. The adoption of credit cards further increased during the year, primarily as responsibilities in the form of expenditure…

Charge cards in India remained a niche category within financial cards and payments in 2023, largely due to higher eligibility criteria for issuance. Given the higher credit score and minimum salary requirement for a charge card in comparison to…

In 2023, a notable rise in social activities was observed, particularly with an increase in the number of women venturing out for work, which contributed to a significant surge in their spending on business attire, thereby fostering the growth of…

Staple foods overall benefited from consumer purchasing power beginning to rise in 2023 as Indonesia’s economy started to rebound following difficult years during and immediately after the pandemic. Sales volumes were boosted by broadening consumer…

The demand for sportswear experienced a substantial surge in the post-COVID-19 era, driven by a shift in consumer preference towards adopting a healthier and fitness-oriented lifestyle in India. This transformation is evident in the growing emphasis…

Unit prices in overall rice, pasta, and noodles increased more dramatically in 2023 compared to 2022, with this being attributable to the dominant subcategory of rice seeing a steep unit price spike in 2023 that resulted from weather-induced harvest…

Average unit prices in processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat saw another year of rises in 2023. This was for several reasons, including the increasing costs of energy and animal feed, with Indonesia being import-reliant for some raw…

Processed fruit and vegetables in Indonesia witnessed dramatically higher unit price hikes in 2023 than it saw in 2022, though volume demand remained sustained. This was partly thanks to independent foodservice operators who have been investing in…