Guatemala

Demand for skin care products continued to rise in Guatemala in 2023, despite the price hikes seen for the second consecutive year. Overall category growth was solid in both volume and current value terms. Guatemalans, especially in the middle- and…

Deodorants in Guatemala rose faster in 2023 than it did in the previous year, in terms of both volume and current value sales. The category is hugely dominated by mass products, with premium presence being insignificant. Over 2022 and 2023 prices…

Menstrual care in Guatemala registered modest constant value and volume growth in 2023, in spite of continuing rising prices. Continuing population growth supported volume growth. That being said, a large proportion of the population still cannot…

Bleach registered muted volume growth in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. Bleach is a popular cleaning product in Guatemala, with a loyal consumer base. However, it is facing increasing competition from other effective cleaning…

Oral care in Guatemala saw prices hikes in 2023, though volume sales growth was stable while current value sales saw rapid rises. Most Guatemalans are not willing to change their oral hygiene practices despite having to pay higher prices for products…

While surface care registered double-digit percentage value growth, volume was more muted and was partly supported by continuing population growth. While multi-purpose cleaners continued to account for most value sales, bathroom cleaners were the…

Polishes are typically consumed by a relatively small proportion of the population in Guatemala, led by shoe and furniture polishes. These products are not seen as household essentials by most in the country and given the high rates of poverty, these…

Guatemala registered another decline in smoking prevalence over 2023, hindering sales of cigarettes. Traditional cigarette smokers have been increasingly migrating to reduced risk alternatives, such as heated tobacco devices, whilst many have taken…

Hair care in Guatemala remained sensitive to price rises in 2023, with shampoos especially feeling the impact. Shampoos are widely used in Guatemala and the market is home to an extensive range of options and large number of brands, offering diverse…

Retail tissue in Guatemala registered healthy volume growth, though constant value growth was more modest, as continuing rising prices cut into profitability. Consumers were highly price sensitive, though also looked for quality. Charmin touted its…

Volume growth in toilet care was muted. Two factors led to the muted growth. With the pandemic having passed, there was less frenetic cleaning. In addition, with inflation still being relatively high, consumers traded down as much as possible and…

Home care registered healthy current value growth, though constant value and volume growth was more muted, as inflation still continued to be an issue, though price rises eased. Political instability rising from the 2023 election also created a…

Volume and current value sales slowed for fragrances in Guatemala in 2023. Fragrances saw a dramatic drop in demand at the start of the pandemic in 2020 but begin to rise again in 2021. However, the high inflation of 2022 and 2023, with retail price…

In 2023 the direct selling distribution channel represented more than half the value of the total market size for colour cosmetics in Guatemala. The channel is particularly important as a source of income during periods of uncertainty, such as those…

There were significant price rises for home-insecticides in 2023, and in particular for spray/aerosols, as supply chain disruptions still lingered and this resulted in high current and constant value growth. However, despite significant price…

Within hand dishwashing, consumers are shifting from the bar format to the cream/paste format. As more households seek the convenience of an effective grease-remover for their dishes that tends to last longer and is softer on skin, the cream/paste…

Air care registered both healthy current and volume growth in 2023, as it becomes an increasingly popular product in Guatemalan households. Spray/aerosol air fresheners remained the largest product area in terms of value sales and also registered the…

2023 saw improved growth rates in both volume and current sales for overall sun care in Guatemala, compared to the previous year. All segments recorded rapid and robust rises as the sun care category remained one of the most dynamic within beauty and…

2023 saw depilatories rise in both volume and current value terms in 2023. During the pandemic and its lockdowns, local consumers spend more time at home and there was reduced need to remove body hair, undermining sales. Subsequently, and with the…

Overall, wipes in Guatemala registered modest constant value growth, as retail prices continued to rise. In households, baby wipes have become versatile tools and are often use for various cleaning purposes. For baby care, trusted brands like Huggies…

Tobacco products contracted slightly in Guatemala in retail volume and current value terms, as cigarette consumption continued its steady downward trend in Guatemala. The consistent fall in smoking prevalence is due primarily to health concerns and…

Laundry care registered moderate volume growth, supported by continuing population growth. Local company Industria La Popular continued to lead with its numerous detergent brands, including Ambar, Bex and Espumil. However, there was very little…

In 2023 men’s grooming Guatemala saw men regulating their purchases with cheaper product choices given high inflation. Shaving is a common habit among Guatemalan men, especially for the older generations who believe a habit a shaved face gives the…

Nappies/diapers/pants in Guatemala registered healthy constant value and moderate volume growth in 2023, partly supported by continuing population growth. While nappies/diapers accounted for most volume sales and registered the highest volume growth,…

Bar soap continued to dominate bath and shower in Guatemala in 2023. While some younger and more affluent consumers are shifting towards liquid soap as they perceive it to be more practical and hygienic, the vast majority of local consumers still…

Tissue and hygiene in Guatemala registered healthy current value growth, though constant value and volume growth was more moderate, as inflation still continued to be an issue, though price rises eased. As such, consumers were price sensitive and…

Adult retail incontinence in Guatemala registered healthy current value and modest volume growth in 2023. The population is ageing and with older people being the main consumers group, this drove demand. However, women also often suffer from urinary…

Leading brands in the juice category continued to witness sustained growth in 2023, in retail volume terms, aided by their positioning as a healthier choice of beverage. Brands such as Del Frutal from Alimentos Maravilla SA, with their single serve…

Powder concentrates witnessed a slowdown in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The product was becoming obsolete, with younger generations of consumers put off by the lack of convenience as it needs to be prepared before consumption. In…

Baby food is expected to register moderate current value growth, but constant value sales are expected to fall as persistent inflation cuts into profitability. That being said, the disruptions in supply that were caused by a recall of Similac in…

Guatemala continues to face high levels of inflation in 2023, driving up average retail prices in the tea category. Leading brands have activated sales with the help of discounts and promotional offers, as consumers are more cautious with expenditure…

Towards the end of the review period, direct seller Herbalife launched a new product called Immunity Essentials. This supplement can be mixed into water, tea or other drinks, and is taken once a day to support the functioning of the immune system. It…

Other dairy is a sizeable product in Guatemala, with cream, condensed and evaporated milk being popular products. However, in 2023, with inflation still an issue, other dairy is expected to register both current and constant value decline and only…

Players continued to invest in the expansion of wine in the country in 2022 with this delivering positive results. Wine sales continued growing in total volume terms in 2022, with wine reaching new consumers as well as seeing an increase in per…

Soft drinks continues to be affected by inflationary pressures in 2023, which prices continuing to rise, but at a slower pace. This had a notable impact on shopping behaviour, with consumers more cautious about their purchases, especially those in…

Off-trade RTD tea volume sales have been growing steadily in Guatemala. Some consumers consider RTD tea to be a healthier option than soft drinks, such as carbonated drinks. Tea in general has a wholesome image in Guatemala, which has had a…

Retail volumes of energy drinks continue to show sustained growth in Guatemala. The product is increasingly associated as a source of energy for workers who perform physical activities, such as construction workers, farmers, or workers on night or…

Breakfast cereal is expected to register moderate volume growth, but marginal constant value growth, as inflation continues to hit profit margins. Imported brands in particular are hit by price rises as pressures from energy bills, transport, labour…

A weak rule of law is adversely affecting economic freedom, whilst Guatemala is witnessing political instability and suppression of freedom of expression. Although resilient, output growth is slowing as remittances reduce and the US economy falters…

Beer dominates sales of alcoholic drinks in the country in total volume terms, but despite this these products continue to see growing interest from Guatemalan consumers. Beer saw strong growth in total volume terms in 2022 boosted by the sustained…

In Guatemala, the direct selling channel continues to rely heavily on in-person interactions as e-commerce penetration remains relatively low. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on direct selling in 2020 due to government…

Overall, cigars remain quite a small and exclusive category in Guatemala, with few consumers opting for these products due to the relatively high unit prices, aside from enthusiasts and those with greater purchasing power. However, with the return of…

Mass beauty and personal care saw rapidly rising retail prices in Guatemala in 2023, with the country still suffering from high inflation that continued from the previous year. Though price hikes in 2023 were not quite as steep as in 2022, consumers…

Although Guatemalans have been eager to resume pre-pandemic habits, the consumption of water in bulk 5-gallon format continued to rise in 2023. Due to the increased awareness of healthy lifestyles and practices, household water consumption has become…

Gum is one of the categories still suffering from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s harsh impact. Despite the full return of consumer mobility, retail volume sales will remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Industry sources note that fewer…

Chocolate confectionery is witnessing slower retail volume and current value growth in 2023, with higher unit prices and inflationary pressure restricting consumption. The initial boost provided by the return of impulse occasions and social…

Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala SA has the widest portfolio of spirits in the country, with popular brands that attract different target audiences, ages, and budgets. For example, within the premium segment the company offers Zacapa Centenario,…

Cervecería Centroamericana SA successfully launched its Karma brand of spirit-based RTDs during the review period. The brand has taken advantage of its lower price positioning (GTQ5 per 350ml unit), a strong distribution reach in modern, traditional…

Beauty and personal care in Guatemala continued to feel the impact of price rises in 2023, though to a lesser extent than in the previous year. High inflation persisted, with product cost remining decisive in purchasing decisions for the majority of…

In 2023 Guatemalan parents showed a marked preference for lower-priced brands in baby and child-specific products, feeling the impact of constant price increases in products for feeding and caring for their children. They focused on finding local…