China

The number of credit cards in circulation and credit card current value transactions are expected to increase in 2023, mainly driven by further improvements in mobility and economic conditions after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at the end of…

Demand for consumer lending is set to see a moderate rebound in 2023, as the pandemic has eased, and consumer spending has returned, especially on services and in other discretionary categories. However, growth in consumer lending in China is…

Consumer credit is set to see a moderate rebound in 2023, following subdued demand in 2022, affected by the pandemic. The pick-up in consumer credit growth has largely been due to rises in home and card lending, reflecting some improvement in…

In 2023, retail current value sales of breakfast cereals are expected to return to growth after decline in 2022. However, value growth is set to be negligible, and retail volume sales are set to see a slight decline, partly due to the return to…

Baked goods is set to return to growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. In this year, leavened bread, which is the main category within bread, is set to see mid-single-digit retail current value growth in China, mainly driven by the…

With the end to the zero-COVID policy in the country, and the return to a more normal consumer environment, womenswear is expected to experience a substantial single-digit current value rebound in China in 2023, drawing close to the level of sales…

The massive lockdowns and widespread COVID-19 infections in 2022 weighed down sales of sportswear in China, which registered a slight current value decline in this year. Nevertheless, outdoor apparel and footwear kept outperforming the overall…

Since the end of the zero-COVID policy, the consumer environment has been gradually returning to normal, and menswear is anticipated to experience a substantial single-digit rebound in China in 2023, although is not quite expected to revert to its…

Thanks to the end of the zero-COVID policy and the resurgence of retro fashion, jeans is set to experience significant high single-digit current value growth in 2023. The popularity of the retro trend has not only favoured denim jeans, but has also…

Despite the downturn in retail current value sales in 2022, which can be attributed to the impact of pandemic-induced restrictions, the alleviation of such measures in 2023 is poised to herald a resurgence for hosiery, culminating in a notable…

After the lifting of the zero-COVID policy and the subsequent relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions at the beginning of 2023, the restoration of logistics and a resurgence in offline consumption was seen. This, in turn, is set to catalyse a…

As pandemic restrictions were lifted in China at the beginning of 2023, bricks-and-mortar sales have gradually been returning after the 2022 decline due to periodic lockdowns. The apparel and footwear industry, including childrenswear, is therefore…

With the end of the zero-COVID policy towards the end of 2022, China’s consumer landscape has undergone a gradual transition back to normalcy. While 2023 experienced a temporary dip in sales of apparel and footwear, influenced by both COVID-19 and…

While many people have adopted a more casual and minimalist approach to their clothing style, their pursuit of aesthetics and individuality remains undiminished. They tend to lean towards using apparel accessories to embellish their simple attire and…

Insights and data on the traditional automotive sector and the mobility industry can help businesses examine how changing travel patterns will impact future consumer behaviour. Growing climate pressures and rising urbanisation rates are pushing…

Amidst heightened awareness amongst Chinese consumers of the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption, the rise of low sugar and no sugar claims is evident across various product types, particularly staple foods. Within baked goods, traditional…

Chinese consumers are becoming increasingly health-conscious and concerned about the negative health effects of excessive sugar consumption. This has led to the rise of better for you soft drinks, including low and no sugar drinks. This is also being…

Leading up to 2022, the Chinese market exhibited a scarcity of options within dairy free ice cream, with minimal sales activity. However, the landscape underwent a notable transformation in 2022, emerging as a pivotal year, characterised by…

In 2022, there was a noticeable increase in consumer interest in fortified/functional hot drinks, due to the significant health and wellness benefits they offer. These hot drinks provide a convenient way for individuals to incorporate beneficial…

Protein has been regarded as important nutrition for boosting immunity since the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020. This has led to the boom of high protein claims in dairy products and alternatives, and has been driving new product developments with a…

In recent years, there has been a notable surge in health-consciousness amongst Chinese consumers. This positive trend can be attributed, in part, to a concerted effort by the government through its "Three Reduce" campaign, which aims to curtail the…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…

Value sales of premium and luxury cars rose by 4% to total CNY1.7 trillion in 2023, due to demand from higher-income consumers, with expenditure proving resilient in the face of macroeconomic headwinds. Wealth determines the degree of demand that…

Personal luxury retail value sales grew by 15% in 2023 to amount to CNY413.1 billion, thanks to growth recorded by leading brand providers such as LVMH Fashion (Shanghai) Trading Co Ltd, Richemont SA, Cie Financière, and LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis…

Retail value sales of luxury goods in China grew by 6% in 2023 in current terms, to stand at CNY3 trillion. Growth in sales was fuelled by several factors during the post-lockdown period. One significant driver was a desire amongst affluent consumers…

Value sales of fine wines/champagne and spirits grew by 9% to total CNY829.6 billion in 2023, boosted by consumers’ appetite for experiences and enjoyment after the pandemic. Socialising over a drink with friends remains a priority for many,…

Tourist arrivals in China were seen to recover in 2023, despite global macroeconomic pressures such as high inflation and the rapid escalation of living costs. This was an improvement on previous years, when the pandemic prevented people from…

Retail sales of yoghurt declined for the fourth successive year in current value terms in 2023, due in part to consumers' increasing health concerns. Consumers perceive yoghurt to contain a high amount of sugar, as well as preservatives and other…

Being a mature product, soy drinks registered fairly modest growth in retail current value terms in 2023. This was driven primarily by price adjustments made by leading players such as Zuming and Vitasoy, due to rising costs of soybeans and labour,…

Other dairy products saw modest growth in current value terms in 202, continuing the trend of the previous year. Within this. cream stood out as the strongest performer, primarily because it is commonly used in home baking, making it more frequently…

Retail sales of drinking milk products experienced modest growth in current value terms in 2023, following a decline in the previous year. The latter was primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the government’s zero-COVID policy,…

Retail sales of dairy products and alternatives experienced a fairly static performance in current value terms in 2023, following the more significant decline of the previous year. This latter was predominantly due to disruptions caused by the…

While the COVID-19 pandemic control measures have eased, and logistics and offline consumption have rebounded, it is anticipated that in 2023, both the retail value and volume sales of cheese will continue to experience a double-digit decline. This…

Retail sales of butter saw accelerated growth in current value terms in 2023. Growth was boosted by the lifting of pandemic-related measures, which saw a revival in offline consumption, combined with an enhanced consumer awareness of Western cuisine.…

Despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of the year, retail sales of milk formula continued their downward trajectory in current value terms in 2023, amid a further reduction in the national birth rate. While the country…

China has been investing significantly in its healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics, which has been positively impacting the demand for medical supplies, including wound care products. In 2023 overall, an intriguing phenomenon is…

Despite the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions at the end of 2022, in 2023 consumers have not fully emerged from the shadow of COVID-19. Lingering health concerns and illness have led to an increased focus on health and immunity. This heightened…

Vitamins enjoyed a surge in demand throughout the COVID-19 wave which started after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in December 2022, and lasted during the first half of 2023. Products with the purpose of immune support, such as vitamin C, which…

As individuals are adapting to the new normal as restrictions have been lifted, and are seeking to regain a sense of normalcy, the return to outdoor activities and sports engagements has become a prevailing trend in 2023. This shift holds promising…

Sleep disorders were already in the spotlight after the outbreak of COVID-19, and demand for sleep aids rose, given the disruption to daily routines, coupled with long screen hours during the lockdowns. However, despite the easing of COVID-19…

Notwithstanding the decline in the birth rate and the contraction in the infant population, which has had a direct negative impact on categories such as milk formula, it has not depressed demand for upgraded consumption in paediatric consumer health.…

The resumption of offline activities and offline traffic is bringing back the buzz for nurturing products (also known as “yang sheng”), a major component of herbal/traditional dietary supplements. COVID-19 restrictions weighed down sales of…

In 2023, eye care in China is set to maintain moderate current value growth. The eyes, being one of the most vital human senses, have always been a focal point of concern, resulting in relatively stable demand for eye care products. Particularly in…

In 2023, the prevalence of the XBB strain of COVID-19 in China, which typically presents with gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhoea symptoms, has led to the rising popularity of digestive remedies, with the overall category set to achieve high…

Dietary supplements is expected to register robust growth in China in 2023, after the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions. The surge in COVID-19 cases since the lifting of restrictions in late December 2022 brought health products such a dietary…

In the wake of the pandemic, marked by an increased emphasis on holistic health, skin health has experienced a robust resurgence in 2023. Forecasts indicate that dermatologicals is poised to achieve steady mid-single-digit current value growth in…

Even though cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies recorded over 40% current value growth in 2022, it is anticipated that the category will continue to achieve high single-digit growth in 2023. Starting from late 2022, the end of the zero-COVID…

Consumer health in China recorded high single-digit current value growth in 2022, mainly due to the COVID-19-related sales surge for OTC products, and this growth trend is set to continue in 2023, mainly due to rising health awareness. In terms of…

Even after seeing exceptional current value growth in 2022, it is anticipated that analgesics will continue to experience double-digit growth in 2023. This can primarily be attributed to the substantial increase in COVID-19 cases in China starting…

Travel sales in China are set to strongly rebound in 2023, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in the country and the reopening of the border to inbound arrivals. In terms of domestic tourism, volume is predicted to recover faster than…