Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies in Taiwan

2020 IMPACT

Sales spike as consumers stockpile, combination products benefit most

The cough, cold and allergy remedies category saw a stronger performance in 2020 than in 2019, with demand boosted by COVID-19. At the pandemic took hold, consumers sought products for the self-treatment of symptoms, and avoided visiting hospitals or clinics.

Medicated confectionery and pharyngeal preparations benefit from self-treatment

The medicated confectionery and pharyngeal preparations categories saw stronger growth in 2020 than in 2019 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to systemic analgesics and cold remedies, consumers increasingly sought these products for the convenient home treatment of cold symptoms, without having to visit a doctor and expose themselves to greater risk of contracting the virus.

Taisho Pharmaceutical rises through the rankings as Pabron sales surge

While GSK Consumer Healthcare maintained its lead of the cough, cold and allergy remedies category in 2020 thanks to the popularity of its Panadol brand, it was Taisho Pharmaceutical (Taiwan) Co Ltd that demonstrated the most notable performance over 2019-2020. The company’s Pabron brand registered strong growth following its entry to the Taiwanese market in 2014, but surged in 2020 – especially the first half of the year.

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Consumers seek convenient solutions in cough, cold and allergy remedies

Consumers choose cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies for their convenience With busy lifestyles and long working hours in Taiwan, an increasing number of consumers are turning to OTC drugs, which can easily be found in pharmacies and drugstores, thus supporting the value growth of OTC cough, cold and allergy remedies. Combination products are set to remain dominant within the category in the post-pandemic environment, as they provide a convenient solution to cold symptoms.

Convenience and preventative functions to boost some categories

In line with demand for convenient and effective products, and the desire among consumers to take preventative measures, the medicated confectionery, pharyngeal preparations and nasal sprays categories are set to see continued growth. While the performances of these categories will weaken somewhat in post-pandemic Taiwan, and consumers will have stocks to use that they purchased early in the pandemic’s development, these categories will nonetheless maintain growth over the forecast period.

Decongestants affected by recent new controls on pseudoephedrine

Since 2017, the police in Taiwan have cracked down on illegal drug manufacturing operations involving the active pharmaceutical ingredient of decongestants, pseudoephedrine, which is an ingredient used in the production of amphetamines. The ability to easily purchase large quantities of decongestants on an OTC basis without a doctor’s prescription offered criminals the opportunity to produce such drugs, and increased the number of drug-related crimes.