Asia Pacific

Hypermarkets in Vietnam continued to focus on network expansion into tier 1 and tier 2 cities in 2023, in response to higher living standards and modern lifestyles. E-Mart opened three new outlets over 2022-2023. The player has also been actively…

Comfort and functionality continue to be essential considerations for consumers when purchasing menstrual products. Menstrual care products that highlight “instant absorbency” with less leakage are popular among female consumers. These products not…

With the termination of lockdowns and the border reopening in Hong Kong, the nappies/diapers/pants category started to recover in 2023. Demand for nappies/diapers/pants remained tepid, however. The declining birth rate in Hong Kong has led to demand…

Adult incontinence saw steady growth in both volume and value sales in 2023. The continued ageing of the population in Hong Kong provides a solid customer base for this category, for both retail and AFH adult incontinence products. According to Hong…

E-commerce in Singapore experienced a marginal decline in value sales in 2023 due to the normalisation of shopping habits. This was expected, given the sharp growth recorded by the channel during the pandemic, when consumers had limited alternatives…

As e-commerce in Taiwan matures, the dynamics of online shopping are undergoing significant shifts, presenting both challenges and opportunities for retailers. Despite experiencing growth in retail value sales in 2023, the pace of expansion has…

E-commerce sales in Thailand saw slowed but strong growth in terms of current value in 2023. The channel still accounts for an only small percentage of retail overall, though growth has been rapid and remained robust in 2023. At the same time, there…

In 2023 retail e-commerce in Vietnam continued to see robust rises, recording faster current value sales growth than it did in 2022. Vietnamese consumers are increasingly family with e-commerce marketplaces, drawn to the very frequent offer of a…

Retail in Singapore has left the impact of the pandemic behind following the easing of restrictions, and has continued with resilient, albeit slower, growth in 2023. The full-scale resumption of social activities and the reopening of international…

Retail in 2023 presented a mixed landscape in Taiwan, marked by economic challenges as the country grappled with a recession in the first quarter. This downturn was primarily attributed to a decline in exports and subdued global demand for…

Thailand’s retail industry in 2023 continued to evolve and improve, responding to growing demand from consumers with convenience as a key driver. The wholesale and retail sectors, along with the vehicle maintenance and household goods sectors, have…

Retail in Vietnam struggled in 2023, facing pressures from inflation and a weakening export market, among other things. Local consumers cut back on spending which negatively impacted several retail categories, including appliances and electronics…

In general, the growth of the category has been driven by unit price increases caused by the rising cost of raw materials. However, manufacturers are reluctant to raise their retail prices significantly, as consumers are sensitive to price increases.…

“Mama shops”, which are small local grocers in Singapore typically located within older and mature residential estates, used to be the cornerstone of grocery retailers in the local market. Such a traditional retail format used to thrive on the…

Small local grocers in Taiwan recorded solid growth in value sales in 2023. The country boasts over 300 night markets, housing about 20,000 vendors and merchants, with a majority situated in towns and rural areas. These vibrant hubs represent the…

Current value sales for traditional small grocers in Thailand continued to rise in 2023, though at a significantly slower rate than in 2022, as the trend towards shopping in small stores close to homes continued. Small local grocers also benefit from…

Small local grocers have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete with other retail channels. In 2023 the rapid growth of convenience stores and the persistent rise in e-commerce purchases continued to take their toll on traditional grocery…

Despite a marginal value sales decline in 2023, supermarkets in Singapore remained the most popular format of grocery retailers in the local market, with value sales still remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels, and the number of outlets…

Supermarkets in Taiwan recorded steady value sales growth in 2023, a year marked by digitalisation efforts as well as an expansion in home delivery services. Uni-President officially acquired Carrefour's business in Taiwan on Nov 14, 2022. This…

Current value sales continued to rise for supermarkets in Thailand in 2023, at a rate that was significantly faster than that posted in 2022. Supermarket operators in the country tend to target middle- to upper-income consumers, who are somewhat less…

Supermarkets in Vietnam saw significant growth in 2023, with notable increases in terms of both current value sales and the number of outlets, driven by the aggressive expansion strategies of key players. Local consumers in suburban and rural areas…

The overall tissue and hygiene market showed stronger signs of recovery in 2023. The Hong Kong government began gradually relaxing the COVID-19-related social restrictions in early 2023. By March 2023, Hong Kong had fully reopened, with the lifting…

2023 witnessed the full effect of the removal of pandemic-related restrictions concerning social activity and international travel, with vending in Singapore continuing to record strong growth due to greater mobility. The vending format thrives on…

In Taiwan, traditional vending machines are giving way to smart vending solutions, leveraging advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and big data. These smart machines offer more than just snacks and…

Vending saw current value sales rise in Thailand in 2023. The country has been home to vending machines for over 20 years, but vending has recently gained ground with new brands entering the market and brining in new technology and payment systems.…

Convenience when travelling has become a significant factor in shaping consumer preferences, and one noticeable trend in 2023 was the rising popularity of smaller packaged wipes. These compact and portable wipes have gained popularity among…

After a year of significant decline in 2022 due to pandemic restrictions, in 2023 apparel and footwear specialists continued to see a slight fall in current value sales in China, despite the lifting of restrictions. With the end of the pandemic,…

In 2023, sales of consumer appliances and consumer electronics saw solid growth in China, thanks to the end of the pandemic, and the “Old for new”, and “Subsidies for green and energy-saving household appliances” policies. However, despite this, and…

In the wake of inflationary pressures, there has been a surprising reluctance amongst individuals to engage in activities outside the home, including dining out, which contributed to lower than expected growth in consumer foodservice in 2023. This…

Total volume sales of baked goods are expected to rise in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by foodservice. Since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in late 2022, many consumers in Hong Kong have returned to their normal work-from-office routine. This has…

Breakfast cereals is set to see growth in retail current value terms in Hong Kong in 2023, although retail volume sales are anticipated to remain fairly static. The resumption of office working has been leading to a shift in consumer demand from hot…

Even after seeing strong performances throughout the pandemic years, convenience retailers maintained its growth momentum in current value terms in China in 2023, with growth in outlet numbers also continuing. Even as the pandemic eased, consumers…

Several years of current value decline were seen in direct selling in China during the pandemic, as the direct selling business model relies heavily on hosting meetings or gatherings to introduce products and recruit new sales personnel, which was…

Robust growth momentum was seen for discounters in China in 2023, with increases in both current value terms and in outlet numbers. This was driven by increasing economic uncertainty in the country, which led more Chinese consumers to seek products…

After seeing a notable decline in value sales in 2022 during the waves of COVID-19 across the country, when many consumers lost confidence in spending on non-essential durable goods, general merchandise stores saw a moderate rebound in its sales in…

In 2023, overall health and beauty specialists saw a steady increase in current value terms and in terms of outlet numbers compared with 2022 in China. Positive current value growth was achieved across all channels, including pharmacies, despite the…

The sales of home products specialists were hit hard in China during the different waves of the pandemic, especially in 2020 and 2022, as consumers tightened their belts when it came to non-essential products, foot traffic reduced in stores, some…

Despite seeing a halt to the decline in outlet numbers in 2023, hypermarkets continued its long-standing decline in retail current value terms in China in 2023. One driver of the fall in sales is that the channel is under intense competition from…

While overall volume sales in menstrual care in South Korea may have shown a slight dip in 2023, a dynamic transformation is quietly unfolding. Closer examination reveals a notable surge in the demand for alternative products such as tampons,…

In the face of persistent declines in the birth rate, companies within nappies/diapers/pants in South Korea are confronted with unique challenges. To counteract these demographic hurdles, businesses are strategically leveraging the premiumisation…

In 2023, processed fruit and vegetables in Hong Kong is set to experience a slight current value decline, along with a stronger retail volume decline. This can be attributed to reduced demand for at-home consumption, primarily driven by the return to…

In 2023, total volume demand for processed meat, seafood, and alternatives to meat is set to experience solid growth in Hong Kong, primarily driven by the strong rebound in the foodservice channel, thanks to the return of foot traffic and tourism…

In 2023, retail adult incontinence in South Korea saw another year of significant volume and current value growth, primarily propelled by the nation’s rapidly ageing population. As South Korea stands amongst the fastest ageing societies globally, the…

Robust growth continued for retail e-commerce in China in 2023, although the rate of current value increase was slower than seen in previous years. Retail sales were driven by strong performances for drinks and tobacco e-commerce, and for home…

Retail in China maintained current value growth in 2023. In early December 2022, the Chinese government announced “New Ten Measures” to optimise COVID-19 prevention, and it cancelled the zero-COVID policy. The whole country saw an end to…

In the aftermath of COVID-19, retail tissue in South Korea was initially poised for decline, along with the return to activities outside the home; however, the category demonstrated resilience in 2023. Contrary to expectations, retail tissue recorded…

Rice, pasta and noodles is expected to see total volume growth in Hong Kong in 2023, with the anticipated volume decline in retail expected to be offset by growth in foodservice. In 2023, rice and pasta in Hong Kong are set to experience slight…

Small local grocers in China includes a broad range of outlet types, from mom-and-pop stores to wet markets. After a year of significant decline in 2022, small local grocers returned to growth in 2023. This was mainly due to the end of COVID-19…

Staple foods has faced a challenging year in 2023, as many consumers in Hong Kong have shifted their spending from retail to foodservice. After three years impacted by the pandemic, consumers have been eager to dine out and experience travel, which…

Supermarkets saw moderate growth in current value terms in China in 2023. Consumer confidence is yet to pick up significantly in China, as economic uncertainty lingers in the country. Many supermarkets are also struggling with quality control,…