Thailand

Overall current value sales rose in 2023 for apparel and footwear specialists in Thailand, partly benefitting from the continued post-pandemic rebound. Thailand is a difficult market for fast fashion players, however. Even before the pandemic,…

Microwaves continued to see healthy growth in retail volume terms in 2023, even recording an improvement on the growth seen in the previous two years. One of the significant factors driving this demand is the shift in eating habits towards consuming…

Personal luxury retail sales increased by 14% in current value terms to reach THB83 billion in 2023, taking them above 2019 levels for the first time since the pandemic arrived in Thailand. The category performance was supported by growth recorded by…

The volume of inbound arrivals increased for the second consecutive year in 2023, following the lifting of all remaining COVID-19 related entry restrictions in October 2022. The return of tourists from other countries in Asia-Pacific, notably China,…

Retail volume sales of mobile phones saw modest growth in 2023, driven by smartphones, in contrast to the sharp seen in the previous year. The latter was due a worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips, which began prior to the pandemic and which had…

Home video overall posted modest volume growth in 2023, driven primarily by the ascent of OLED TVs, although LCD TVs also saw a positive performance. Video players, meanwhile, continued to suffer from diminished demand as streaming services won over…

Thailand is prone to bouts of political instability, which has adversely affected economic freedom. Moreover, the military’s stranglehold and the influence of the monarch over politics have weakened the rule of law. Returning tourism has helped to…

Following a further slowdown in the number of new COVID-19 cases in 2021, consumers and businesses, including the beer industry, seemed to be dealing with yet another serious inflation problem in 2022. The increase in production, shipping, and…

The total consumption of alcoholic drinks in Thailand has started recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis through all channels, especially in foodservice. The Thai Government has now ended the restrictions that it imposed to limit the…

In response to the revival of eat-in dining, foodservice players resumed their outlet expansion strategies in 2023. As in the previous year, retail was the most dynamic location in terms of growth in number of outlets, as operators looked to…

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…

Olive oil is seeing a return to popularity, with a rebound in robust retail volume growth, thanks to ongoing health and wellness trends and the fact olive oil is perceived to be a healthy product. The increasing popularity of Western cuisines, which…

As of 1 October 2022, Thailand fully lifted all pandemic-related border requirements. To enter the country, international travellers no longer needed to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test. This resulted in a strong recovery for…

Wearable electronics continued to see positive growth in volume terms in 2023, albeit at a slower rate than the previous two years. This was driven by a number of factors, not least the health and wellness trend, which was facilitated by COVID-19.…

Retail volume sales of portable players remained static in 2023, as portable media players, epitomised by the iPod, continued on their path of decline. With the rise of smartphones, consumers now have access to various media applications that provide…

Sugar confectionery is considered as a very mature category in Thailand, with a large number of brands and a fairly fragmented competitive landscape beyond the leading names. Namely, Halls (Mondelez International (Thailand) Co Ltd) takes the lead…

Thailand has returned to normality in 2023, following the restrictions created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers have returned to out-of-home, on-the-go lifestyles, along with a large number of tourists visiting the country. As such, this revival…

RTDs returned to volume growth in 2022 following two years of significant decline due to the markedly changed conditions of the COVID-19 crisis. However, sales remained well below the levels seen immediately prior to the pandemic. Despite the…

The impact of climate change and rising temperatures in Thailand has had a significant impact on the demand for air conditioners in the country. As temperatures rise during the hot and humid months, the need for effective cooling solutions has become…

Meals and soups benefit from consumers’ return to busy out-of-home lifestyles in the post-pandemic landscape – particularly so in the large cities. Such options provide convenience to consumers who are seeking quick and easy meals. Added to which,…