Malaysia

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…

Since pandemic restrictions were lifted there has been a general uptick in sales across all categories of personal accessories, with this pattern continuing into 2023. The reopening of Malaysia’s borders has seen the return of international tourism,…

Both costume jewellery and fine jewellery registered weaker growth in 2023 both in retail volume and current value terms. Demand was impacted by the rising inflationary pressures being faced by Malaysians with most households seeing a significant…

All of the categories in bags and luggage displayed slower growth in 2023 compared to 2022 both in retail volume and current value terms. This was partly due to a stabilisation of demand with sales having been restored to pre-pandemic levels.…

In Malaysia, the market for vacuum cleaners continued its growth in 2023, with a more impressive rate than was seen in 2022 but at a moderated pace compared to the surge experienced during the height of the pandemic. This growth is underpinned by a…

In Malaysia, the market for small cooking appliances recorded a slight decline in terms of overall volume sales growth in 2023. The trend towards multifunctional and space-saving cooking devices like rice cookers, has been sustained, as these…

Post-pandemic the demand for refrigeration appliances has dropped in Malaysia, largely thanks to the decrease in purchases of freestanding fridge freezers, a segment that had previously seen significant growth. The decrease was a result of a…

Oral care appliances continued dominate retail volume sales of personal care appliances in Malaysia in 2023 and also posted the most dynamic growth. Heightened hygiene awareness, a by-product of the pandemic's influence, has seen many consumers…

The Malaysian market for microwaves saw a decline in retail volume sales in 2023, continuing from 2022’s dip that followed a period of growth from 2019 to 2021. The decline is partly due to a reduced need for new or replacement microwaves after a…

Large cooking appliances in Malaysia, after experiencing a decline during the pandemic due to economic contractions and increased home seclusion, began to show signs of recovery in 2021. Although the pandemic led to reduced disposable incomes and a…

Post-pandemic the demand for home laundry appliances has been declining in Malaysia, following a pandemic-era trend of increased investment in such products amid a notable shift towards enhancing home comfort. With travel and holiday plans curtailed,…

The market for food preparation appliances in Malaysia saw a slight dip in terms of overall volume sales in 2023, following positive trends established in previous years. The fall was curbed by a sustained interest in cooking at home, particularly…

Demand for dishwashers in Malaysia has been heavily influenced by the reduced presence of expatriates, who traditionally constituted a significant customer segment for this appliance. The adoption of remote working policies by businesses, both local…

The lifting of restrictions in 2022 has reshaped the Malaysian consumer landscape, with local consumers no longer confined to their homes. The newfound freedom has boosted spending in sectors such as tourism and food service, detracting from consumer…

In Malaysia, the perception of air purifiers is transitioning from a luxury to a necessity, despite their higher-than-average unit prices. 2023 saw volume sales continue to rise, thanks to a pandemic-induced heightened awareness about the importance…

Retail sales of staple foods in Malaysia recorded continued growth in volume terms in 2023. This was in spite of rising food prices, thanks to the weakening of the local currency, the ringgit, against the US dollar, which brought about higher import…

Retail sales of rice saw continued growth in volume terms in 2023. This was in spite of the rising price of imported rice, thanks to the depreciation of the local currency, the ringgit, and disruptions to the global supply chain. Malaysia imports a…

Retail volume sales of processed meat, seafood and alternatives saw modest growth in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. Products such as chilled processed meat have a low level of demand in Malaysia, due to an overwhelming consumer…

As processed fruit and vegetables are commonly used ingredients in foodservice, the continued recovery of foodservice industry in 2023 had a positive impact on demand. Indeed foodservice volumes grew much faster than their retail counterparts, thanks…

Retail sales of breakfast cereals in Malaysia recorded continued growth in volume terms in 2023. This was in spite of the weakening of the local currency, the ringgit, against the US dollar, which brought about higher import costs. With Malaysia…

Baked goods, such as packaged leavened bread, packaged cakes and packaged pastries, are considered essential foods by Malaysians, being typically consumed for breakfast or during tea breaks throughout the day. Packaged baked goods are also widely…

Retail volume sales of sweet spreads declined significantly in 2023. Sweet spreads such as jams and preserves, as well as nut and seed based spreads, are mainly consumed with bread for breakfast, with local consumers preferring artisanal bread with…

With consumers having returned to normal, busy lifestyles and COVID-19 related restrictions having been lifted, dining out was once again a popular option for consumers in 2023. In the midst of hectic schedules, consumers only cooked at home…

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…

Around the world, a rising number of consumers are looking to cut down on their consumption of meat due to concerns about health, the environment and animal welfare, and manufacturers are increasingly targeting this trend with new product…

Financial cards and payments in Malaysia in 2023 exhibited significant continuation with 2022 in terms of the direction of travel in the post-Coronavirus (COVID-19) period. The strong moves towards a cashless society in Malaysia, pushed by the…

Olive oil saw retail volume sales decline in 2023 at the same time as witnessing current value growth as unit prices continued to rise significantly. Most of the brands operating in the category, including Bertolli, Colavita, Naturel, and Filippo…

Wider acceptance is boosting the use of personal debit cards in Malaysia. The rising popularity of personal debit cards underpins the growth in the number of cards and volume and value transactions. The increased numbers of POS terminals is widening…

The resumption of daily routines as the country emerges out of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has sparked spending on both personal and commercial credit cards. In 2023, the number of commercial credit cards in circulation is rebounding, following…

Consumers continued to dine out more often in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis in 2023 as the return to busy lifestyles left them with limited time to cook from scratch at home and drove down in-home consumption. However, consumers continued to…

Charge cards continue to struggle to appeal widely, and consumer demand is set to remain relatively low at the end of the review period. This situation is confirmed by the limited supply of charge cards from banking institutions in Malaysia. Indeed,…

Towards the end of the review period, many local consumers took out personal loans to cope with higher financial burdens. Malaysian banks have offered personal loans with more flexible repayment plans and more appealing terms when required. The…

In 2021 and 2022, many local consumers used personal loans when faced with unplanned expenses or a personal financial emergency. Malaysian banks were very active in offering personal loans to individuals, providing flexible repayments and offering…

Sales of womenswear registered a second year of robust growth in 2023, with current value sales edging even closer to pre-pandemic levels. As the country emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysian women became increasingly keen to socialise and…

A return to more active lifestyles fuelled growth in sportwear in 2023, with performance apparel and performance footwear, in particular, benefitting from the resumption of outdoor sporting activities. The reopening of the country’s borders to…

Menswear saw another year of healthy growth in current value terms in 2023, with sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The return of Malaysians to their physical offices supported demand in a number of product areas, with items such as men’s suits,…

Sales of jeans continued to see healthy growth in current value terms in 2023. Premium jeans remained the largest subcategory in terms of value, having continued to benefit from the presence of many established brands, including the iconic Levi’s…

Demand for hosiery improved significantly in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. The return of consumers to their physical offices boosted demand for sheer hosiery, as did an increase in the number of social outings, as tights tend to be…

Footwear registered a second year of double-digit growth in 2023, with sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels in current value terms. Sales of both men’s and women’s footwear were boosted by the return of consumers to their physical offices, at least on…

Compared to other areas of apparel and footwear, childrenswear saw relatively modest growth in current value terms in 2023. Sales of childrenswear were comparatively unaffected by the pandemic, as despite the lockdown, parents still needed to…

Sales of apparel and footwear saw dynamic growth in 2022, with constant value sales fast approaching pre-pandemic levels. As the country emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers became increasingly keen to travel, socialise and spend more time…

Retail sales of apparel accessories continued to see healthy growth in current value terms in 2023. With consumers returning to their physical offices, there was a return to more formal clothing styles, with ties and belts seeing a particularly…

As the market reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic, all mobility categories rebounded strongly in 2022. Continued growth is forecast over 2022-2027, as Malaysia’s economy grows. SUVs and crossovers have outperformed other light vehicle categories,…

Wound care continued to see positive growth in retail volume terms in 2023, as life returned to normal following the pandemic. With people spending more time outside the home, including taking part in sport, this led to an increase in the number of…

Weight management and wellbeing continued to record healthy growth in both volume and constant value terms in 2023. This was led by supplement nutrition drinks, continuing the pattern seen over the review period. Consumers are becoming increasingly…

Demand for vitamins continued to grow at a rapid pace in 2023 as Malaysians increasingly focused on preventative health measures. Indeed, despite the transition of COVID-19 into an endemic virus, consumers continued to seek out products that claimed…

Sports nutrition continued to see dynamic growth in constant value terms in 2023, as consumers returned to their active lifestyles. Sales also benefited from opening of more gyms and fitness centres, following the ending of various pandemic-related…

Despite the fact that fears surrounding COVID-19 had largely subsided by 2023, many parents remained concerned about their children’s health, and as such, showed a willingness to invest in preventative health solutions. For example, paediatric…

An increasing of smokers looked to quit the habit in 2023 and as such, retail volume sales of NRT smoking cessation aids continued to see strong growth as a result. The Malaysian government also continued to with its efforts to raise awareness of the…

Herbal and traditional products have a long-standing tradition within consumer health in Malaysia. Such products are often sold in kiosks, as well as herbal/traditional healthcare stores, and as such, are easy to obtain. For example, Tongkat Ali, one…