Asia Pacific

Despite the rise of digital wallets, physical credit cards and pre-paid cards still play a significant role in payments. Notably, digital wallets often cannot link to popular pre-paid cards like EasyCard, the largest transportation card in Taiwan,…

In 2022, South Korea witnessed growth in both the issuance and usage of pre-paid cards in line with greater mobility outside of the home. Shinhan Card, in particular, played a role in driving this growth, reporting a remarkable increase in the retail…

EZ-link, the leading open-looped pre-paid card in Singapore, has significantly benefited from the resumption of regional travel. Not only has EZ-link gained traction among tourists visiting Singapore, who find it a convenient payment solution for…

Despite increased competition from other payment methods, pre-paid cards retains the potential for growth as Malaysia continues to shift towards a cashless society. With the use of cash in long-term decline, a trend accelerated by the Coronavirus…

In the review period, pre-paid cards showed progression to online (mobile, smart watch, etc...) payment, especially within transportation pre-paid cards such as Suica and PASMO cards. More people opted to use smartphone app versions of pre-paid cards…

The pre-paid cards category has continued its strong performance in 2023, with the category seeing positive growth in terms of both volume and value transactions, as in the previous year. Pre-paid cards has been particularly impacted by the revival…

Pre-paid card transactions witnessed healthy double-digit growth in transaction volumes over 2021-2022. However, in 2023, the category witnessed a decline in volume of transactions as consumers became increasingly inclined to choose alternative…

Octopus has established itself as the most widely used and popular open loop pre-paid card in Hong Kong, offering a myriad of convenient features and services. Recognising the growing interest among local residents to explore the mainland during…

As of July 2023, 10 pre-paid card issuers had had their payment clearing license revoked, according to PBOC (People’s Bank of China). In fact, the majority of these issuers voluntarily cancelled their licenses, affected by stringent government…

Portable players continues to see healthy growth in retail volume terms in 2023, although this is being entirely driven by the strong demand for wireless speakers. Consumers appreciate the convenience of being able to create a fast connection between…

Sales of portable players are seeing growth in retail volume terms in 2023 for the second year running but this growth is being driven by wireless speakers with all the other categories posting heavy losses. A major fact in this is that wireless…

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…

Wireless speakers continued to drive growth in portable players in 2023, being the only product area to have recorded a positive increase in sales in retail volume terms. Compact, portable and affordable, as well as being compatible with “on-the-go”…

Overall demand for portable players is expected to increase in 2023, but most categories are set to maintain retail volume declines, and growth will be driven solely by the dominant wireless speakers category. In addition to use within the home, in…

Following the exit of portable media players from Singapore in 2022, wireless speakers is the only product category to drive demand for portable players in 2023. The convenience and ease of use make wireless speakers a popular device in the local…

Portable players is dominated by wireless speakers, with portable multimedia players accounting for most of the remainder. Compact, portable and affordable, as well as being compatible with “on-the-go” lifestyles, wireless speakers are rapidly…

It was in May 2022 that Apple announced it was discontinuing its iPod brand. Apple’s iPod is an iconic device, changing the face of music over the last two decades. With the advertising copy “1,000 songs in your pocket”, the first model debuted in…

In 2023, positive volume sales growth in portable players in Indonesia remains entirely driven by sales of wireless speakers, while other product areas are witnessing significant retail volume declines. The surge in popularity of multifunctional…

In 2023, portable players in India saw positive retail volume and current value growth, driven solely by the sale of wireless speakers. The vast majority of sales in portable players can be attributed to wireless speakers, which are witnessing…

Portable players is seeing a healthy performance in 2023, in part thanks to the overall popularity and success of wireless speakers, in addition to the return of gatherings and social occasions out-of-home in the post-pandemic landscape. Indeed, in…

Portable players continues to see weak demand overall and remain in a negative figure slump, albeit volume sales have improved from the steep declines seen in 2022. Overall, the advances in technology seen in multifunctional consumer electronics such…

During 2023, polishes saw an improved performance in both retail volume and current value terms. The category is dominated by shoe polishes, which benefitted from the revival of normal, pre-pandemic lifestyles, including the return of consumers to…

Polishes is almost entirely supported by shoe polish in Uzbekistan. Shoe polish can be found in most households in Uzbekistan, which is a dusty country. This has been exacerbated in recent years by the mass construction of new buildings, residential…

Demand for polishes tends to remain limited to wealthier urban households, many of whom employ maids to clean their homes, and are willing to invest in polishes to keep their homes clean and well-maintained. Continuing the trend from the previous…

Polishes exhibited a dual narrative of retail volume growth across most categories (except floor polish, which dragged down the overall growth rate), and intricate pricing adjustments. The growth rate for polish for columns in particular remained…

Despite price rises in 2023, polishes continued to record a retail value decline, with retail volume sales falling in all areas. COVID-19 had no noticeable impact on the polishes landscape, with sales declining before the outbreak. The polishes…

Shoe polish is the largest category in polishes and faced a weaker performance in 2023 following the strong rebound in sales during 2022. Demand for shoe polish rebounded strongly in 2022, as professionals returning to offices opted for formal attire…

Value sales of shoe polish experienced a marginal increase in 2023, attributed in part to the occurrence of more military exercises in Singapore. This uptick can be linked to the specific needs and preferences within the military community, as well…

The strong rise in demand for polishes continued in 2023, primarily propelled by the growing middle-class consumer base in the country. The rising consumer base of middle-class households can be attributed to improving disposable incomes and…

Overall polishes maintained growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023, with increases seen across all categories. However, lifestyle and fashion trends continued to militate against the development of polishes. For instance, younger…

Polishes in Kazakhstan continued to fall in 2023 in terms of volume sales growth, and while it saw positive rises in current value terms, the rate was at a more moderate pace than in the previous year of 2022. The range of category goods found on…

Floor polish is not a standard product for many younger households. It may have been used by older generations, but the custom of polishing the floor with wax products has not been passed down to the younger generations. First, it is very…

Polishes is seeing rather sluggish and static growth, with little activity of note. That said, metal polish continues to grow from its relatively low base, registering a modest uptick in sales. It is noted that, in the post-pandemic landscape, as…

In 2023, growth in polishes slowed in retail volume and current value terms compared with 2022, but the category continued its rebound post-pandemic, with retail value sales finally returning to the pre-pandemic (2019) level, even though retail…

Continuing the long-standing trend, polishes saw a retail volume decline in Hong Kong in 2023, although growth was seen in current value terms. Volume demand for shoe polish continued to decline in Hong Kong in 2023 due to decreasing sales of leather…

Despite the anticipated recovery in commercial activities in 2023, following the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions in China, sales of polishes experienced another year of only moderate value growth, while volume sales declined. This was mainly…

Polishes were the weakest performers in home care in 2023, registering a slight fall in constant value sales, and a large decline in volume sales. Increasingly, many types of polish are being replaced by multi-purpose cleaners, with consumers…

Although plant-based dairy packaging unit volumes were only stagnating in 2022, this was an improvement in terms of performance following two years of decline during the pandemic. Although plant-based dairy was seeing strong growth prior to the…

Earlier in the review period, prior to the pandemic, plant-based milk – the only product in plant-based dairy currently with visible sales – had been seeing strong growth, especially the dominant product type of soy milk, as many Filipinos were…

Plant-based milk has gained traction in Thailand due to a growing awareness of health and environmental concerns. Many Thai consumers are increasingly adopting plant-based diets for various reasons, including lactose intolerance, dietary restrictions…

Within plant-based dairy in South Korea, plant-based milk was the only category with notable packaging volumes in 2023, as plant-based yoghurt and cheese are still in their early stages of development. Brick liquid cartons is the preferred pack type…

The solid growth recorded by plant-based milk packaging in 2022, as the largest retail unit volume category within plant-based dairy packaging in Singapore, was attributed to a global shift towards plant-based diets and lifestyles driven by health…

Brick liquid cartons’ dominance can be attributed to both product functionality and consumer preferences. They offer excellent protection for plant-based milk. The multi-layered structure provides a barrier against light and air exposure, both of…

Total plant-based dairy packaging volumes declined in Japan in 2023. Brick liquid cartons also saw a decline in packaging volumes in 2023, but remained the leading pack type for plant-based milk in this year, which is the largest category in…

The continued growth of plant-based milk and its packaging unit volumes can be attributed to a convergence of factors. Rising health consciousness and dietary preferences, along with heightened environmental awareness, are propelling the demand for…

Plant-based dairy packaging in India is accounted for only by plant-based milk, with sales of other plant-based dairy products insignificant. Smaller pack sizes of plant-based milk, such as 200ml and 236ml, are the most popular, as consumers are…

In Hong Kong, the preference for plant-based milk is on the rise, driven by a shift towards healthier and more sustainable dietary choices. Unlike traditional soy milk, deeply rooted in Chinese diets, plant-based milk varieties are gaining popularity…

The two major pack types used for plant-based milk in China are metal beverage cans and brick liquid cartons. The latter continued to gain share over the former in 2023 since brick liquid cartons provide a lightweight, cost-effective and more…

The consumption of plant-based dairy remains a prominent and enduring trend within the broader dairy industry in 2023. The rise in popularity of the health and wellness and sustainability movements has significantly contributed to the increase in…

Soy drinks remained the only significant subcategory within plant-based dairy in 2023. Retail volume sales of soy drinks declined sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, due to decreased incidence of impulse purchases through…