Asia Pacific

Although state finances remain sustainable, the ruling party’s grip on power is eroding democracy and freedoms, whilst corruption remains a key problem. Economic growth continues to be robust, but external sector weakness exists and dependence on…

Myanmar’s military has created significant instability for the country, whilst corruption continues to be rife and economic freedom has worsened. High inflation is causing the economy to stall and the foreign investment climate has worsened…

In 2023, following the post-COVID-19 reopening, traditional and connected watches in China began to gradually recover, particularly after travel and health restrictions were lifted. After seeing a strong decline in 2022, the category is set to see…

Traditional and connected watches registered relatively modest growth in constant value terms in 2023, when compared to the previous year. This was due to the declining fortunes of quartz analogue watches, which represented the largest category in…

Increasing unit prices has been a decades-long trend in traditional watches. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, unit prices rose by over 10% YoY from 2020 to 2022. The last decade also saw numerous years of volume decline. A main reason behind…

Basic and mid-range traditional watches saw slower growth in retail volume terms in 2023 after seeing dynamic double-digit growth in 2022. The target audience for these products are generally more price-sensitive and they were impacted significantly…

Traditional watches in Singapore is set to achieve slower growth in 2023 compared with 2022, although the category is expected to continue to register solid growth in retail current value terms and lower but steady growth in retail volume terms.…

While in 2022 sales of traditional watches posted strong double-digit current value growth, driven by consumers’ high demand for luxury goods, 2023 is set to witness a strong slowdown in growth, as the unstable global political and economic…

The uncertain economic conditions in Thailand are expected to lead to slower retail volume and current value growth rates for traditional and connected watches in 2023, as consumers have battled inflationary rises in the cost of living and cost of…

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the normalisation of offline classes, the supressed demand for writing instruments amongst students was released in 2023, when stores selling stationery reopened offline. However, online schooling during…

Sales of writing instruments saw an improved performance in constant value terms in 2023, when compared to the previous year. This was partly attributable to the return of pre-pandemic lifestyles including the resumption of face-to face school…

According to Euromonitor’s Economies and Consumers data, the population aged 0-14 is set to decline by 2% between 2022 and 2023, accounting for only 11% of the total population in Japan. The total population of this age group has declined for 40…

Colourings, markers and highlighters were the most dynamic categories in writing instruments in 2023 with sales of these products thriving. This was partly due to a flurry of new product launches as players looked to benefit from the returning demand…

In 2023, the highest growth in writing instruments is projected to be seen by highlighters and markers in retail volume and current value terms. The brand Zebra Midliner has gained immense popularity amongst local students, and is expected to…

The official end of the pandemic in 2023, and the full resumption of offline classrooms in schools and extracurricular academic institutions has been continuing to support students’ demand for stationery, and is also expected to sustain the retail…

Writing instruments is expected to see a positive performance in both retail volume and current value terms in 2023, as people have returned to living their normal lives, and there is positive sentiment in the market. Furthermore, the rebound in…

Bags and luggage with versatile designs and enhanced functionality were in demand. Consumers sought products that could adapt to various situations, such as convertible backpacks, expandable suitcases, or bags with multiple compartments and…

Due to the continual increase in urbanisation in the Philippines leading to the creation of more jobs, opportunities, and economic activity, the younger generation and working population of the Philippines have been rising. As an effect of higher…

After China scrapped its zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022, retail sales declined in this country in both volume and real value terms in 2023. As consumers’ lives returned to normal, this resulted in a shift from cooking at home to eating out at…

In 2023, minimalist jewellery designs were highly sought after in Taiwan. Delicate and understated pieces featuring clean lines, geometric shapes, and subtle adornments became a staple in the fashion scene. This trend reflects a shift towards…

The combination of ethical, environmental, and quality considerations, coupled with effective marketing strategies, is contributing to the rising popularity of brands offering lab-grown diamonds in the Philippines. Lab-grown diamonds are often…

In 2023, Taiwan's personal accessories industry experienced strong current retail value growth, driven by notable trends. The demand for bags and luggage rose, with consumers seeking high-quality, fashionable options, with many showing a preference…

Higher consumer spending due to urbanisation, more online and offline retail opportunities due to high economic activity, and a growing interest in personal style and expression as a response to long periods of COVID-19 lockdowns are set to drive…

With a lack of foreign reserves in the country due to the current economic crisis, the government of Sri Lanka has had to impose import restrictions which has limited the availability of some soft drinks. Although not as high as in 2022 inflation…

There has been a noted revival of classic watches in Taiwan, with a renewed appreciation for traditional, mechanical watches. This is aiding sales of quartz analogue devices, with mid and high quartz analogue watches recording positive retail volume…

As sales of second-hand watches from top luxury brands have been booming due to the previous supply chain issues and closure of manufacturing facilities, major luxury watch brands have created programmes in 2023 to support and acknowledge the growth…

A movement towards fountain pens was noted in 2023, driven by the trends of nostalgia and elegance. Enthusiasts and collectors both appreciated the smooth writing experience, the aesthetic appeal, and the personal touch that fountain pens bring to…

From 2020 to 2021, the Department of Education and Commission of Higher Education implemented remote learning in response to the pandemic, with the goal of returning to face-to-face classes in 2022. In 2022, schools began to reopen as scheduled, and…

This Megatrends report highlights long-term trends resulting from shifts in consumer values and behaviour. It provides a summary of each of Euromonitor International’s 10 focus megatrends and insights as to how each trend has manifested in Malaysia.

Following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 2022, consumers spent more money on travel and experiences, shifting budgets away from consumer appliances. In addition, the weaker performance of the local real estate market saw air treatment…

Asian speciality drinks in Indonesia saw positive growth in terms of off-trade volume sales in 2023, though the pace was lower than that recorded in 2022. This slowdown was the result of a second year of price hikes at a double-digit rate.…

Bottled water recorded off-trade growth in terms of volume sales in Indonesia in 2023, following slight decline in the previous year, 2022. However, despite 2023’s positive performance, bottled water has yet to recover to pre-pandemic volume sales…

Carbonates in Indonesia saw healthy volume growth for the third consecutive year in 2023 with sales normalising in terms of off-trade volume and value, and the former returning to pre-pandemic levels (current value sales recovered in 2022). The…

Coffee experienced a rebound in retail volume terms in 2023 following a decline in the previous year. This was due mainly to improving economic conditions and the gradual restoration of consumer confidence. The pandemic had a negative impact on the…

Coffee consumption has become the norm in Malaysia, with more consumers drinking coffee daily in line with rising urbanisation and busy lifestyles. Volume sales rose dynamically through the on-trade channel in 2023 and saw marginal decline in the…

Overall concentrates posted flat growth in off-trade channels in Indonesia in 2023. Sales of liquid concentrates saw minor growth in volume terms, with sales supported by local consumers travelling back to their hometowns for large family gatherings…

In 2023, consumer appliances in Taiwan posted slower retail volume and value growth compared to the previous year, with sales negatively impacted by inflationary pressure, the slowdown in the local real estate market, and a spending shift from goods…

The post-pandemic era in 2023 has ushered in changes in consumption and dining habits, marked by a greater emphasis on the quality and unique presentation of dishes when dining out. The trend of ordering delivery has continued to gain traction.…

Since Taiwan re-opened its national border at the end of 2022, many consumers travelled abroad, shifting spending from goods to experiences. This has led to reduced capital spent on dishwashers, in addition to other major appliances. However,…

In 2023, the sales volume of edible oils experienced a decline, partially offset by the return to normal routines and a growing demand in the foodservice channel. The normalisation of dining in and travel activities during 2023 boosted demand from…

Off-trade volume sales of energy drinks continued their slow recovery in 2023, following two previous years of double-digit growth, though growth was substantially slower than that which was recorded in 2021 and 2022. Sales in 2023 were supported by…

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, consumers gradually returned to eating out and using food delivery services more frequently. Less time was spent cooking at home, leading to lower expenditure on food preparation in 2023.

While retail volume growth was positive in 2023, sales were hampered by a shift from spending on goods to services and experiences. As Taiwan ended COVID-19 restrictions at the end of 2022, many consumers were eager to travel abroad. This revenge…

Retail volume sales of hot drinks in Indonesia saw healthy growth in 2023, in contrast to the decline seen in the previous year. This was attributable to a gradual improvement in consumer purchasing power, thanks to better economic conditions,…

Global price hikes for raw materials like sugar and cocoa drove up unit selling prices in hot drinks in Malaysia in 2023, especially within coffee and other hot drinks. The hoarding and shortage of cocoa in west Africa force leading players like…

Off-trade volume sales rose robustly for juice in 2023, following a year of strong double-digit growth in 2022. Juice drinks (up to 24% juice) remained the largest member of the overall category and has been leading growth in terms of off-trade…

Following a fast increase in sales caused by the robust real estate market from 2020 to 2022, large cooking appliances slowed down in 2023. This was especially the case as many subcategories, including built-in hobs and cooker hoods, tend to be…

The resurgence of travel and dining out in 2023, following the post-COVID-19 era, has redirected consumption from off-trade to on-trade channels in Taiwan. With increased time spent on travel and dining at restaurants, there has been a noticeable…

Despite its higher electricity consumption, microwaves are considered kitchen essentials in Taiwan. As such, the penetration rates of microwaves continued to slightly increase in 2023. COVID-19 did not have a negative impact on its overall sales…

Other hot drinks suffered a further decline in retail volume terms in 2023, albeit at a more modest rate than the previous year. This was due largely to the dismal performance of other plant-based hot drinks, which suffered from rising raw material…