China

Glass jars remained the leading pack type for sweet spreads packaging in China at the end of the review period. This was due to glass jars being highly favoured for their ability to preserve the freshness and flavour of sweet spreads, providing an…

Flexible plastic is the dominant pack type for pickled products packaging in China. This is due to flexible plastic packaging offering excellent barrier properties, protecting the pickled products from moisture, oxygen and other external…

Flexible plastic is the industry standard for the packaging of processed meat and seafood products, as it is seen as a cost-effective way to keep products fresh and safe, with it commonly being used with vacuum packing. This packaging format provides…

Shelf stable fruit dominates processed fruit and vegetables in China, with glass jars the dominant pack type within shelf stable fruit. Glass jars are popular for offering superior preservation qualities, effectively sealing in freshness, flavour and…

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…

Flexible plastic is the most widely used pack type in meals and soups packaging in China. This is due to this packaging type being lightweight and durable, making it easy to transport and store, which is particularly important for busy urban…

Shaped liquid cartons, already a major pack type within the category, were gaining share in dairy food packaging in China in 2023 due to their versatility, convenience and superior branding possibilities. These cartons are easy to handle, pour and…

In 2023, flexible plastic packaging continued to dominate confectionery packaging in China in unit volume terms. This was due to its lightweight and flexible nature, which offers convenience in handling and transportation. It is also ideal for…

Flexible plastic remains the preferred pack type in dried baby food packaging in China due to its numerous advantages that align with consumer needs and market demands. This packaging type offers superior barrier properties, ensuring the preservation…

In 2024, sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks in China is expected to maintain the trend from the previous year and witness steady minimal growth in retail current value terms. This is mainly due to the overall economic slowdown in China, and…

Afte a year of decline in 2022 during the pandemic restrictions, sugar confectionery in China returned to retail current value growth in 2023, and this trend is set to be maintained in 2024. With increasing consumer health consciousness…

As consumers’ lives gradually returned to normal in 2023, retail current value sales of snacks experienced a return to growth. However, in 2024, the growth rate for snacks in China is set to slow slightly, becoming almost static, due to the impact of…

Savoury snacks in China is set to see a slowdown in retail current value growth in 2024, even though the growth rate in 2023 was already minimal. Overall economic slowdown in China and increasing uncertainty about the future have driven consumers…

After experiencing rapid growth in 2021 and 2022, retail current value sales of ice cream in China saw a significant decline in 2023. Several factors contributed to this downturn. Compared with 2022, there were fewer days with high temperatures,…

After a year of strong retail current value decline in 2022, gum in China returned to growth in 2023, and recovery is expected to continue in 2024. Both chewing gum and bubble gum saw the same trend of decline followed by rebound. However, the upward…

Chocolate confectionery in China saw solid retail current value growth in 2023, and this trend is expected to be maintained in 2024. Beyond the traditional formats, chocolate confectionery continues to evolve in terms of textures and tastes. First,…

In 2023, wine in China experienced declines in both total volume and total current value terms, with overall sales and revenue showing low single-digit decreases. Chinese consumers’ willingness to purchase and consume wine has decreased. In China,…

Spirits in China showed different trends in total volume and total current value terms in 2023. Total volume sales declined both off-trade and on-trade, primarily due to the continued decrease in sales of Chinese spirits. Although the lifting of…

RTDs in China maintained strong growth in both off-trade volume and current value terms in 2023, with both increasing by double digits, with on-trade sales also rising. Generally, younger consumers of legal purchasing age in China are gradually…

In 2023, cider/perry in China maintained high growth rates, with total volume and current value growth rates in the double digits. Particularly high growth was seen in the on-trade channel, with growth rates exceeding 20%. The strong growth of…

In 2023, beer in China saw a slight rebound in total volume sales compared with 2022, mainly driven by the easing of pandemic restrictions and a return to growth in on-trade sales. However, total volume sales were still short of the 2019 figure in…

Total volume of alcoholic drinks in China saw a marginal rebound in 2023, shifting from decline in 2022 to a slight single-digit increase in 2023. However, the off-trade channel experienced a slight decrease in volume sales, while the on-trade…

Tobacco in China saw a fairly stable performance in 2023, with volume sales increasing marginally across all categories except e-vapour products. Cigarettes continued to see slow increases in both retail volume and current value sales, driven by…

In 2023, e-vapour products in China witnessed an exceptional decline in retail current value sales, marking the lowest level of sales since 2014. This was due to the enforcement of “requirements of the Measures for the Administration of E-cigarettes”…

Compared with cigarettes, cigars is still a niche category in China, with a relatively low penetration rate. This is primarily because the compact and convenient nature of cigarettes aligns better with consumers’ busy lifestyles and work rhythms.…

In 2023, retail volume sales of cigarettes in China maintained negligible growth. Cigarettes in China is strictly regulated by The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA). In recent years, cigarette production remained relatively stable. With…

Sunglasses in China is anticipated to continue growing in current value terms in 2024, albeit under the influence of market conditions, and it is not expected that sales will return to the level seen in 2021. Nevertheless, there are positive…

Following a rebound in 2023, which saw strong double-digit current value growth, spectacles in China is set to return to high single-digit growth in 2024, indicating a return to a more stable growth trajectory. In terms of category performances,…

In the post-pandemic era, while the impact of COVID-19 is gradually waning, the slowdown in China’s macroeconomic environment is influencing the overall consumer landscape. Overall eyewear in China is therefore set to see a slower but solid…

Following impressive double-digit growth surpassing most beauty- and fashion-related categories in 2023, contact lenses in China is expected to return to stable mid-single-digit current value growth in 2024. On the one hand, the rapid expansion of…

Sports drinks in China saw significant off-trade volume and current value growth in 2021 and 2022, and growth continued in 2023, although at slower rates. This dynamism was due to comprehensive consumer education on the hydration benefits of…

In 2023, soft drinks in China maintained low off-trade volume growth, and a stronger current value increase. Meanwhile, although on-trade volume sales of soft drinks continued to decline, it was at a much slower rate, and current value sales saw a…

RTD tea in China saw slow off-trade volume growth in 2023, along with a stronger current value increase. Reduced sugar still RTD tea led growth in the category in this year, despite still only capturing a minor share of sales of overall RTD tea…

As full reopening after COVID-19 was seen in the country in 2023, RTD coffee in China recorded single-digit growth in both off-trade volume and current value terms; however, sales remained below the 2021 level. RTD coffee experienced a decline in…

Juice in China saw off-trade volume and current value declines in 2023. This was mainly due to increasing health awareness amongst consumers, and therefore a decline in the popularity of juice drinks and nectars, which often have high sugar content…

Energy drinks in China registered dynamic off-trade volume and current value growth in 2023, with growth rates exceeding those of most other soft drinks categories. Growth in energy drinks was driven by three main factors. The first was the recovery…

Concentrates in China saw off-trade RTD volume and current value declines in 2023. Nevertheless, liquid concentrates maintained solid growth by both measures in this year, driven by coffee liquid concentrates, which are being increasingly popular in…

Off-trade volume and current value sales of carbonates continued to see dynamic growth in China in 2023. Brands were able to maintain growth through innovations in areas such as sugar reduction and flavours. Sugar reduction (the use of sweeteners)…

In 2023, bottled water in China registered low off-trade volume growth, and slightly higher current value growth. The average unit price of bottled water trended upwards in 2023, as an increasing number of consumers opted for mid-range or even…

Asian speciality drinks in China continued to see declines in both on-trade and off-trade volume and current value sales in 2023, due to the weak performance of the major product type, fruit vinegar. Fruit vinegar is a traditional beverage that…

After seeing a decline in 2022, homewares in China experienced a rebound to slight growth in current value terms in 2023. Value sales of beverageware experienced a notable upswing in this year. In addition to being a rebound from 2022, growth was…

In 2023, home improvement in China experienced a slow current value increase, primarily owing to a resurgence in demand after a sluggish year in 2022. This was mainly because of the boom in real estate in China, and the renewed interest in home…

After seeing a notable decline in 2022, home furnishings in China experienced minimal growth in current value terms in 2023. This limited rebound was primarily due to economic uncertainties, including fluctuations in the housing market and changes in…

After a year of decline in 2022, home and garden in China witnessed low current value growth in 2023, fuelled by increasing urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and a growing middle-class with a penchant for home improvement and lifestyle…

Gardening in China experienced another remarkable surge in sales in current value terms in 2023, primarily driven by the significant rise in urbanisation, and scarcity of green spaces, which led consumers to seek a connection to nature, and thereby…

In 2023, video games in China exhibited a strong rebound, with a double-digit growth rate in current value terms. This resurgence can be attributed to several key factors. First, the normalisation of new game licenses in 2023 injected new vitality…

After a year of decline due to the pandemic in 2022, traditional toys and games in China saw a rebound to growth in current value terms in 2023. Dolls and accessories experienced a relatively high value growth rate in 2023, in the high single digits.…

Following the decline during the pandemic and lockdown period in 2022, a current value resurgence was witnessed for toys and games in China in 2023, with growth for both traditional toys and games and video games. The lifting of lockdown policies…

After many years of double-digit current value growth for pet products in China, growth slowed to single-digit in 2023, and a further slowing of growth is expected in 2024, although remaining solid. The growth of cat litter is expected to stabilise…

In 2024, pet care is set to record mid-single digit current value growth in China, benefiting from the steady growth in the pet population and the heightened focus on the health, nutrition, and living conditions of pets. Pet food is expected to show…