South Africa

Sour milk products are commonly preferred by lower-income consumers, who are particularly susceptible to price increases. These consumers often opt for such products due to their relatively lower cost compared with other dairy items, making sour milk…

Pens is set to remain the biggest category within writing instruments in value terms in 2023, with pencils also remaining a significant category. Pens and pencils are expected to see positive current value growth rates in 2023 despite the tough…

For many consumers wound care items are considered non-essential and appear rarely in monthly grocery shopping baskets. Wound care products are rarely bought in high volumes or even on a regular basis. Consumers who purchase wound care products only…

The first live-action Barbie film was released in South Africa in 2023, encouraging many apparel and footwear specialists to stock various licensed clothing items featuring the Barbie logo. Watching the Barbie film for many local consumers was a…

High inflation towards the end of the review period, where some products faced significant unit price increases, placed pressure on demand for wipes in South Africa, while value sales continued to record impressive growth. Therefore, consumers turned…

Following a challenging year derived from the impacts of COVID-19, total volume and current value sales of wine rebounded in 2021 and 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic levels. This was a result of three key factors. First, the on-trade performance…

Despite the tough economic conditions in South Africa in 2023, consumers remain dedicated to their health and wellbeing. As such, they are still prioritising activities such as going to the gym, outdoor sports and taking a walk after work, with even…

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, more consumers have prioritised their skin care. Despite the economic difficulties, consumers are still purchasing skin care products as there are various skin care ranges both locally and internationally that have a wide…

Video games continued to see dynamic growth in current value terms in 2022 as consumers continued to seek entertainment options whilst spending time at home. The category also continued to benefit from the dynamic growth of next-generation consoles,…

In 2023, vending in South Africa continued to recover from the negative impact of lockdown restrictions, which mainly affected machines located in semi-captive environments, leading to the bankruptcy of many small businesses operating within the…

The impact of inflation has not spared vegetables, with the latter also experiencing further steep price increases in 2023. With affordability being a key priority for South Africans, one of the ways to offset these increases is by choosing to…

The established remote/hybrid working model since the pandemic has dramatically changed many South Africans’ lifestyles. It comes with challenges such as limited time to perform errands and chores, or manage childcare, whilst also working from home.…

Travel and tourism in South Africa has faced persistent challenges due to rising input costs, particularly related to supplying quality water to clients and dealing with frequent power outages. Water supply and water quality challenges have been…

Traditional toys and games saw strong growth in current value terms in 2022. Sales were driven by an increase in footfall in traditional toys and games stores, the partial recovery of household incomes and the increased desire for entertainment at…

Connected watches were becoming increasingly popular even before the pandemic, although rising from a low base. Even during the worst of the pandemic sales continued to grow in both retail volume and current value terms, and this is set to continue…

Toys and games continued to see strong growth in current value terms in South Africa in 2022, backed by an uptick in economic activity and the easing of COVID-19 control measures. Both traditional toys and games and video games saw slightly stronger…

Travel and tourism in South Africa has been sustained by the domestic market despite major airlines being grounded in 2022 and an increase in aviation fuel prices. Tourist arrivals from Europe and the US have started to regain momentum in 2023, with…

The global urban consumer landscape is increasingly complex and difficult to navigate. Which cities should you choose for your consumer business expansion? To answer this and other questions, we are introducing the Euromonitor International Cities…

Retail volume growth of toilet care in South Africa slowed in 2023 compared to the previous year. The country witnessed high-scale inflation, shifting a change in consumer behaviour. This was in addition to increasing costs of transport, fuel and…

Following the dynamic growth seen in tobacco products sales in 2021, which helped the market recoup all the current value losses it suffered due to the pandemic in 2020, a much less dynamic performance was seen in current value terms in 2022, with…

Concerns surrounding rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, loadshedding and supply chain constraints were the focus in 2023, influencing the performance of tissue and hygiene in South Africa. However, overall inflation in the country…

Restrictions on movement, changing consumer preferences and the heightened focus on safety triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic are anticipated to alter the future of consumer mobility, urban planning and construction. The surge in homeworking, reduced…

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the consumer goods market in Sub-Saharan Africa, with recovery expected to take place over time. Consumers expenditure has been negatively affected, as value seeking consumers shift to essential products. The…

Retail demand for local rooibos tea (other tea) continues to grow amid a demographic that is adopting healthier lifestyle habits. Brands are thus producing rooibos offerings that are tailored to different consumers. In the younger demographic,…

Nut and seed based spreads remained the largest category in sweet spreads packaging in retail unit volumes in 2022, recording positive growth in line with demand for these popular products in South Africa. These products are generally perceived as…

Despite maintaining retail volume growth throughout the pandemic and its aftermath, sweet spreads is set to turn to slight decline in 2023, although dynamic current value growth is still expected, due to price rises. Apart from the rising price of…

National Brands is set to continue to lead sweet biscuits in retail value terms in 2023, despite strong competition from private label lines and rising unit prices in South Africa. During 2023 unit prices are set to increase by double digits, driven…

Established green habits, including recycling and reducing food waste, has led almost half of South African consumers to be Zero Wasters, reflected in their sustainable shopping decisions. Growth opportunities are strong, as over half of Zero Wasters…

Purchases of surface care in South Africa are included in many consumers’ grocery shopping budgets. In 2023, food inflation peaked at double digits, limiting affordability, in addition to a further rise in unit prices of surface care. This scenario…

After a relatively strong performance during the pandemic, due to lockdown restrictions, supermarkets in South Africa once again benefited in 2023 from consumers’ renewed focus on essential products due to economic pressures. The channel’s…

Many consumers in South Africa continue to experience financial difficulties due to the high cost of living, leaving them with lower disposable incomes to spend on perceived non-essential items such as sunglasses. Therefore, they are more likely to…

Demand for sun care in South Africa remained stable in 2023 compared to the previous year, but below pre-pandemic levels. This was due to greater competition from hybrid products that offer sun protection properties, thereby reducing the need to…

Sugar confectionery is set to record high single-digit retail current value growth in 2023; however, rising unit prices are expected to drive down retail volume demand. Most categories are projected to see double-digit growth in unit prices as a…

South Africa’s sugar industry has struggled in recent years due to a combination of poor local production, impacted by loadshedding and flooding, as well as elevated international sugar prices, caused by climatic factors such as drought. While…

Whilst street stalls/kiosks has long been dominated by independent players in South Africa, the changing trading environment has seen a growing interest by chained operators that are traditionally present in limited-service and full-service…

Store cards is set to witness growth in volume and value transactions in 2023, supported by cash-strapped consumers, notably lower- to middle-income consumers. This trend has been consolidated by the rising cost of living, which continues to affect…

Potatoes are a staple for many South Africans, comprising 95% total volume share of starchy roots. Therefore, a reduction in supply and price hikes are impacting local consumers. The supply of potatoes declined in February 2023 to the lowest…

2023 is proving to be a tough financial year for South Africans due to double-digit food inflation, rising interest rates and rolling blackouts. Many categories have experienced single-digit unit price growth, which is placing pressure on volume…

Since the pandemic, many consumers have adopted healthy lifestyles that include regular workouts or walks. This in turn has fuelled demand for sportswear, with sales remaining buoyant in 2023. While increasingly busy consumers may have less time to…

For many sports enthusiasts, sports nutrition is a vital part of their daily nutritional routine. Many consumers who use sports nutrition are generally active gym users or even play a sport. Sports nutrition products provide those who are exercising…

While the growth of energy drinks remains more dynamic in South Africa, sports drinks remain popular with local consumers due to the greater participation in activities. Unlike energy drinks, sports drinks do not contain caffeine and work to aid…

White spirits saw the strongest total volume growth within spirits in 2022, as consumers resumed social consumption at bars and restaurants. On-trade spaces offer diversity in terms of flavour profiles, allowing consumers to choose according to their…

During the pandemic, most consumers, including children, spent a significant amount of time in front of digital devices due to online studying and remote studying measures in place, as a result of restrictions outside of the home. Increased activity…

From 2022 to 2040, South Africa's population growth will slow due to declining fertility rates, leading to childless households rising. Generation Alpha (15-30 age group) are set to overtake millennials as the most prevalent cohort. Ongoing…

Population expansion in South Africa will be propelled predominantly by natural increase up to 2040. Declining birth rates and rising longevity will encourage ageing; however, life expectancy will stay relatively low, and the country will remain…

Emalahleni and Pretoria are emerging as vibrant economic hubs in South Africa, with Emalahleni experiencing the fastest population increase between 2022 and 2027. Cape Town and Pretoria are set to lead in digital connectivity among cities, while…

PET bottles are the dominant pack type used for soft drinks in South Africa, as they are cost-effective, both in terms of production and transportation. The lightweight nature of the bottles reduces transportation costs, making them a practical…

The health and wellness trend is becoming increasingly entrenched in South Africans’ lives, although regular soft drinks such as carbonates retain higher share overall compared to reduced sugar options. While brands are adapting more to this trend,…

2023 has marked another tough year for consumers in South Africa, with double-digit food inflation, rising interest rates, and continuous rolling blackouts (loadshedding). Loadshedding has affected the entire supply chain, as well as consumers, as…