Consumer Health

In Asia Pacific, key factors of digitalisation, industry upgrades, and demographic shifts are collectively reshaping the landscape and consumer behaviours. This report explores the motivations, preferences and purchasing patterns of health and beauty…

Kenvue Inc retained its ranking as the second largest company within the consumer health industry after a successful demerger from Johnson & Johnson Inc in May 2023, supported by global power brands like Tylenol, Zyrtec, Imodium and Band-Aid. North…

While coughs, colds and the flu were less prevalent during the home seclusion of 2020, negatively impacting sales of cough and cold remedies in this year, they returned in full in the 2022/2023 winter season, with society fully reopened, boosting…

Emerging from the pandemic, Latin America moved into a period of high inflation, with both factors hitting consumer health sales in 2022. The large Brazilian market was facing new health challenges in the form of arboviruses, especially dengue, in…

Although cost-of-living crises have been putting pressure on consumers’ purchasing power in a number of countries in Middle East and Africa, they can also provide momentum for consumer health sales. Some consumers, unable to afford visits to a…

After seeing a weakening in its growth rate in 2020, when the pandemic first hit the region, consumer health in Asia Pacific has since been recording strong growth. Further sales increases are expected over the forecast period, driven by factors such…

Wound care is set to maintain stable current value growth in Brazil in 2023, but will continue to decline in volume terms. It was previously a prevalent practice amongst Brazilians to maintain a supply of gauze, sticking plasters/adhesive bandages,…

After a weak performance for several years, weight management and wellbeing is set to see a double-digit surge in current value sales in Brazil in 2023. In general, there has been a significant increase in the price level in this category, especially…

After the significant surge in sales witnessed in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic, vitamins is expected to see more modest rates of volume and current value growth in 2023, although they will exceed the 2022 levels. The favourable performance in…

Sports nutrition is set to be a standout growth category within consumer health in Brazil in 2023, expected to maintain its third consecutive year of over 20% growth in current value terms. The pursuit of a healthier lifestyle is a significant…

Sleep aids is set to maintain dynamic retail volume growth and even stronger current value growth in Brazil in 2023. For many people, especially those in busy cities, getting a full eight hours sleep each night can feel like a luxury. The fast pace…

Paediatric consumer health is poised for solid growth in current value terms in Brazil in 2023, maintaining a rate of increase similar to that observed in 2022. While in 2022, in-person schooling exposed children to colds and flu, in 2023, another…

NRT smoking cessation aids is set to continue to witness a volume decline in Brazil in 2023, despite the expectation of current value growth, due to increases in prices. Although nicotine patches is one of the most established formats for nicotine…

Herbal/traditional products is set to see double-digit current value growth in Brazil in 2023. Consumers in Brazil continue to robustly support herbal/traditional products, especially when it comes to cough/cold remedies and sleep aids. This enduring…

Eye care is expected to maintain positive momentum in both volume and current value terms in Brazil in 2023. A lasting long-term effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been increased screen time, which has driven demand for eye drops across virtually…

Digestive remedies is set to show double-digit growth in current value terms in Brazil in 2023; a result primarily driven by antacids and diarrhoeal remedies. Together, these two categories account for more than half of value sales of digestive…

Dietary supplements is expected to see solid current value growth in Brazil in 2023, maintaining the trend seen for many years. During the years of the pandemic, consumers predominantly focused on products that strengthened their immune system. While…

Dermatologicals is set to maintain a healthy growth trajectory in current value terms in Brazil in 2023, in line with the increase recorded in 2022, driven mainly by price rises. The pandemic years were marked by a reduction in Brazilians’ purchasing…

In 2023, cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies is set to maintain dynamic current value growth in Brazil. In this year, the conclusion of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for COVID-19, as declared by the World…

Consumer health in Brazil is expected to close 2023 with double-digit growth in current value terms for the third consecutive year. While in previous years, the COVID-19 pandemic boosted demand for cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, as…

Analgesics is set to maintain steady current value growth in Brazil in 2023, and will remain the largest category within OTC, with a 40% share of value sales. The consumption of analgesics is mainly related to general pain, fever, and the relief of…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence among the key economies remains. Supply chain and commodities markets disruptions remain the key risks for…

Uganda’s economy saw real GDP growth of 5% in 2023 and this provided a boost to sales of some consumer health products. Self-medication is driving growth in consumer health in Uganda as consumers are finding it easier and cheaper to purchase…

A high rate of inflation, averaging 30% in 2023, forced consumers to cut down on spending on non-essential items, and even to reconsider the food they purchased to reduce their expenditure. Rx medications continued to be widely purchased under the…

In 2023, urbanisation, population growth and health and wellness drove retail sales. Most consumers self-medicated as the cheaper option and due to limited access to doctors outside of key cities. An overburdened public health sector and expensive…

Embedded finance is the critical factor to improve customer journey and drive transformation for services industries.. With travel recovery and sluggish volume sales of automotives, embedded finance is considered to have the most potential to build…

Lifted restrictions in post-pandemic Hong Kong meant increased outdoor and travel activities led to a higher demand for wound care products in 2022, particularly sticking plasters/adhesive bandages for emergency use. With the resurgence of outdoor…

There has been an increase in the number of Korean weight management brands entering the Hong Kong market. For example, Glam.D launched the cookie & cream flavour Light Meal Shake, tailored to suit the preferences of Hong Kong consumers. Korean…

The significant increase in vitamins sales in Hong Kong in 2023 can be attributed to several factors. There has been a growing emphasis among local consumers on taking preventive measures to enhance their overall health and wellbeing. This trend has…

In 2023, sports nutrition in Hong Kong continued to record robust volume growth as local consumers maintained the exercising habits they acquired during the pandemic when spending time in lockdowns. Local consumers are increasingly interested in…

The importance of mental health continues to command attention, with sleep being recognised as a crucial factor for maintaining overall wellbeing. The demand for products that address mental health concerns has surged in Hong Kong prompting…

Paediatric cough, cold and allergy remedies in Hong Kong saw strong rises in the wake of lifted social restrictions in 2023. The mandatory mask-wearing policy, which had been in place to mitigate the spread of respiratory illnesses, was removed and…

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…

In Asia, the search of health-conscious young consumers for dietary supplement product efficacy is dominating market trends. They are susceptible to advertising but do extra research to make informed purchase decisions. Heightened health concerns,…

The Southeast Asian market has evolved to version 2.0, positioning ASEAN as a pivotal component in local and global investors' strategies. With a rising cost of capital amid tightening monetary policies, long-term structural shifts in demographics…

Retail sales of wound care products in Thailand experienced accelerated growth in current value terms in 2023, following the return of consumers to more active lifestyles outside the home. With the resumption of sports and other outdoor activities…

With the revival of pre-pandemic lifestyles in 2023, including the return of individuals to their physical workplaces and social activities, many Thais looked to shed the excess weight they had gained during the pandemic. This helped to drive strong…

2023 witnessed remarkable growth for vitamins in current value terms, continuing the trend of the previous year. Persistent concerns surrounding COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, coupled with ongoing health concerns, sustained a robust demand…

Sports nutrition products enjoyed dynamic growth in current value terms in 2023. As fears surrounding COVID-19 eased, consumers returned to their normal activities, including taking part in physical exercise. This included outdoor sports, like…

Paediatric vitamins and dietary supplements remained the largest and most dynamic product area in current value terms in 2023, with parents remaining keen to protect their children’s health. As demand grew, so too did the variety of offerings, with…

NRT smoking cessation aids remained one of the smallest categories within consumer health in Thailand in 2023. Consumers are only able to purchase these products from drugstores/parapharmacies or pharmacies, as they have to be dispensed by a…

Herbal/traditional products are popular among Thai consumers, many of whom like to avoid products with synthetic ingredients and instead prefer those with natural elements, with the latter perceived to be safer, healthier, and, more importantly, to…