Consumer Electronics

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Rising costs of living pose challenges globally, but companies can find opportunities in several categories, essential and discretionary, especially in underpenetrated fast-growing markets. By considering category adjacencies and focusing on value,…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

The global economy is facing weaker growth and increasing fragmentation, as a result of rising geopolitical tensions, especially due to the war in Ukraine and the US-China strategic rivalry. Protectionism, industrial policy and a focus on resilience…

During the review period, consumers across South Africa became more aware of the importance of leading healthy lives. This trend was facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic which gave them more time to reflect on their lifestyles. Such a development…

During the review period, South Africa faced repeated interruptions to the power supply, known as load-shedding. This had a significant impact on businesses, including consumer electronics, as well as consumer lifestyles. However, these intermittent…

During the review period, there was a clear trend towards smartphones with larger screen sizes in South Africa. This was driven mainly by technological advancements which allowed consumers to perform multiple functions, which until relatively…

The emergence of products with multiple functions across the consumer electronics industry continued to have a negative impact on in-car entertainment in South Africa in 2023. In-car navigation, for example, is increasingly affected by the fact that…

Imaging devices are increasingly under threat from alternative, better value for money products that serve the same purpose, most notably smartphones. Most new smartphones have an imaging functionality that competes with both digital cameras and…

Consumer demands continued to evolve in 2023, alongside the emergence of new technologies. One notable trend within home video was a growing demand for multifunctional smart TVs, which gave consumers the opportunity to stream their favourite shows…

Towards the end of the review period, there was a growing demand for home audio and cinema products which did not require a lot of time to set up and operate, commensurate with increasingly busy lifestyles. One product to benefit from this trend was…

Many companies in South Africa are adopting a hybrid working model, a trend that was facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a development has boosted volume sales of headphone products, which saw continued growth in 2023. The main reason behind…

The consumer electronics market in South Africa is becoming increasingly characterised by high levels of innovation by the leading players. With tough economic conditions placing pressure on consumers’ disposable incomes, brand owners sought to…

South Africa remained subject to widespread electricity blackouts (load-shedding) in 2023, which meant that were was no power supply during certain times of the day. This had a negative impact on the operating capability of many organisations across…

Wearable electronics are becoming increasingly popular with the category set to record a double-digit increase in volume and current value sales in 2023. Preventative health is the main driver of value sales of wearable electronics, as consumers look…

Overall, portable players is expected to register a decline in volume sales. Technology advances are leading to the obsoletion of portable players. In particular, smartphones and tablets are replacing the need for portable media players. This is also…

The 2022 finance law in Morocco introduced an internal consumption tax on smartphones and new “green” taxes, which is expected to raise the cost of electronic devices and household appliances. Analysts predict that the ongoing war in Ukraine and chip…

In-car entertainment is expected to register further volume sales declines in 2023 caused by a combination of factors. New cars often have in-built technology. In addition, prices are on the rise due to general inflation, particularly stemming from…

Imaging devices is expected to be the worst performing consumer electronics category in 2023. Continuing advances in smartphone cameras are leading to a decline in imaging devices, to the extent that some smartphones can meet the imaging device needs…

In spite of economic uncertainty, televisions is expected to register healthy volume growth and current value growth in 2023, as Moroccans look to upgrade their televisions. The average screen size of televisions sold is increasing as household…

Home audio and cinema is expected to register a slight increase in volume and current value sales in 2023. With inflation creeping up, players are offering promotions in order to support volume sales. Hi-Fi systems is expected to register positive…

Headphones is expected to register slight volume growth, largely driven by healthy volume growth in TWS earbuds, which is by far the best seller in headphones. Wireless headbands and wireless earphones are both expected to register volume declines.…

Multiple factors have been putting downward pressure on consumer electronics sales in Morocco, of which high taxes and consumer price sensitivity are just a few. Moreover, recent crises related to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exacerbated…

The computers and peripherals, laptops and tablets categories in Morocco experienced an increase in demand during the pandemic, leading to a shortage of products as manufacturers were unable to fulfil orders. Importers and distributers placed larger…

Wearables are expected to be the standout performer in 2023, registering double-digit volume growth and that is despite continuing high inflation and also significant currency devaluation, which is making imported products even more expensive.…

Wearable electronics is enjoying healthy growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. In the face of a weaker Egyptian pound and high inflation rates, average unit prices climbed by some 17% in 2022 and a further 14% in 2023. Import…

While media players and e-readers are expected to suffer volume decline, wireless speakers are expected to register a healthy increase in volume sales. Demand for these devices is due to their portability, and connectivity to smartphones, which…

Egypt resumed acceptance of import collection documents in 2023, opening the door for imports after they were halted in February 2022. Import issues have prevailed in line with foreign currency shortages and three devaluations of the Egyptian pound…

Overall mobile phones are expected to register volume decline in 2023. Continuing elevated inflation and also a significant devaluation of the naira leads to a significant fall in consumer purchasing power. In particular, currency devaluation has…

Smartphones witnessed further volume decline in 2023, although the drop was far less severe than the dramatic downturn seen in 2022. The average unit price of smartphones more than doubled during 2022, with a further 25% increase expected during…

In-car entertainment is expected to register further volume decline in 2023. There are several factors leading to the decline. Imports of cars is expected fall both for new and second-hard cars, as continuing elevated inflation and also a significant…

Demand for in-car navigation systems with satellite capabilities is steadily declining due to high prices and the shift to more affordable GPS navigation systems and smartphones. The import restrictions and foreign currency shortages in 2022 led to a…

Several factors are expected to lead to a double-digit volume decline in imaging devices. Continuing elevated inflation and significant currency devaluation has reduced consumer purchasing power and in particular has made imported product more…

As a discretionary product, digital cameras are losing appeal as consumers struggle under the weight of high costs of living in 2023. Inflation has reached unprecedented levels in recent years and is for forcing consumers to rethink non-essential…

Home video is expected to register a fall in volume sales in 2023. Continued high inflation, as well as a significant devaluation of the naira, is expected to reduce consumer purchasing power further. In particular, currency devaluation has made…

LCD’s made a solid recovery in 2023 after a somewhat difficult performance in the previous year. There has been a sharp increase in the share of LCD TVs with built-in receivers, which now account for almost 50% of retail volume sales in 2023. A…

Home audio and cinema is expected to register a fall in volume sales in 2023. Continued high inflation, as well as a significant devaluation of the naira, is expected to reduce consumer purchasing power further. As a result, consumers focus on…

Retail volume sales continues to decline in 2023 with high inflation and the currency devaluation further eroding consumer purchasing power. In the face of economic uncertainty, consumers are limiting the amount they can spend on luxurious…

Despite a difficult economic situation, with continuing elevated inflation and significant devaluation of the naira, headphones is expected to register volume growth. This is largely driven by the popularity of mass TWS earbuds, which is expected to…

Headphones moved back into growth in 2023 despite the continuation of economic problems. Foreign currency shortages imposed a heavy burden on this category, as virtually all headphones are imported into Egypt. Inflation and the weaker Egyptian pound…

The picture is expected to be bleak for consumer electronics in 2023, with overall volume sales expected to fall. A new government inherited a sluggish economy, record debt and shrinking oil output, due to creaking infrastructure. On foot of this,…

Consumer electronics is under pressure in 2023 as the Egyptian economy is confronted by exceptional economic challenges. In the face of rising prices, current value sales recorded double-digit growth in 2023. However, demand has waned for consumer…

Despite population growth, computer and peripherals are expected to only register a marginal increase in volume sales in 2023. Continued high inflation, as well as a significant devaluation of the naira, is expected to reduce consumer purchasing…

Desktops is suffering a second consecutive year of retail volume sales decline in 2023 as soaring inflation in Egypt takes its toll on the Egyptian pound and consumer spending. Inflation reached a high of 32.7% in March 2023, compared to 12.1% in…

Sales of consumer electronics were negatively impacted as consumers cut down on discretionary purchases as prices of electronics products escalated despite the economic uncertainties.

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. In 2023, global inflation is expected to ease from its peak in 2022, but remaining significantly above-trend. Geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market are…

Now in its seventh edition, this report explores the top digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this edition touch on topics such as second-hand shopping, community group buying,…

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…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries. Global inflation is reaching a peak, although geopolitical risks and uncertainty in the energy market remain key risks. The impact varies between countries, with…