Asia Pacific

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession in nearly a century. Businesses are operating in a world of anxieties and uncertainties, not knowing what will be the new normal or when output and consumer spending…

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

As the end of 2021 approaches, almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant has increased uncertainty and weakened the momentum of the global recovery. This series of quarterly reports…

This report considers what socialising will look like in a post-COVID-19 era, focusing on several key questions. A return to the “Roaring Twenties” in the beverages space or a continuing decimation of the on-trade? How has socialising changed (eg…

RTDs continues to be among the smallest alcoholic drinks categories in Azerbaijan, with young adult consumers as its main target audience. Traditionally, the category has been perceived as an affordable way to drink and, in 2022, it received a new…

In 2022, off-trade sales of RTDs exhibited remarkable growth in volume terms, displaying another year of double-digit increase. This upswing can primarily be attributed to the exceptional performance of spirit-based RTDs. RTDs in China witnessed a…

RTDs maintained total volume growth in 2022, with sales recovering to the pre-pandemic level in this year. Sales are projected to increase further as life in Hong Kong gradually returns to normal. On-trade volume sales increased in 2022, with outlets…

During 2022, India continued to witness a growing preference for low-calorie alcoholic beverages, as well as those with a lower alcohol content. This was driven by growing levels of health-consciousness and changing lifestyles post-COVID-19.…

As one of the biggest local producers of alcoholic drinks and RTDs in Indonesia, Orang Tua Group has sought to develop strategies to boost the performance of RTDs, which has struggled in recent years. Sales of RTDs have been on a trend of general…

In 2022, total volume sales of RTDs recorded a slight decline. This was the first fall in sales in 15 years, since the category had been growing every year since 2008. The biggest reason for the decline was a partial reversal of the increase in…

RTDs remains among the smallest alcoholic drinks categories in Kazakhstan, with younger adult consumers of legal drinking age as the target audience. There is still lack of innovation in RTDs, with more novelties needed to attract consumers and boost…

Wine-based RTDs was the most dynamic category in total volume terms in 2022. This was a turnaround in fortunes for a category which was in decline even before the pandemic. The category benefited from the lifting of restrictions on bars/pubs and…

On-trade volume sales of RTDs witnessed further dynamic growth in 2022. Sales were impacted by the removal of capacity limits on nightlife establishments as COVID-19 safe management measures continued to ease. Efforts by operators to encourage…

RTDs used to be considered exotic and a “lighter” alcoholic drink in South Korea among younger generations of adults. However, beer has now replaced this positioning. While the leading RTD players, such as Independent Liquor Korea and Lotte Asahi…

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, local consumers have become increasingly aware of their health and wellbeing, leading many to drink in moderation or seek lower-ABV drinks. This has benefited the RTD market, with those seeking healthier options or…

RTDs returned to volume growth in 2022 following two years of significant decline due to the markedly changed conditions of the COVID-19 crisis. However, sales remained well below the levels seen immediately prior to the pandemic. Despite the…

After enduring a difficult period, RTDs began a journey towards recovery in 2022 in terms of current value sales in both the off-trade and the on-trade, though volume sales continued to decline. Strong on-trade value sales growth was enjoyed by…

Vodka continues to be the dominant product area in overall spirits, still accounting for close to 90% of spirits sales in total volume terms in 2022. This means that the dynamics in vodka generally determine the performance of overall spirits, with…

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on spirits in China was profound in 2022, as the closure of on-trade establishments during lockdowns had a detrimental effect on sales in the category. However, amidst these challenging circumstances, there was a…

In 2022, total volume sales of spirits recovered from the pandemic-battered year in 2020, returning to the above the pre-pandemic level of sales. All types of spirits saw growth due to the easing and then removal of pandemic restrictions by the…