Malaysia

Colour cosmetics turned in a positive performance in Malaysia in 2023, with volume and current value sales rising robustly. Premium colour cosmetics enjoyed strong growth thanks to the fuller return of shoppers to store-based outlets, which has…

Cat food is set to see solid retail volume and current value growth in Malaysia in 2024, with higher growth rates than those seen in 2023, but not as high as in the years prior. The rising cat population is one major factor in the continued strong…

The number of vending machines increased in Malaysia in 2023, with several offering health supplements and others dispensing skin care products. There are even machines offering products as diverse as cacti and NFTs, suggesting that the novelty…

During the pandemic and lockdown period in 2020, the Health Ministry advised consumers to use bleach as an alternative to sanitise surfaces when surface care products such as home care disinfectants were running out of stock in both urban and rural…

Air care maintained retail volume and current value growth in 2023, with increases seen across all categories. However, car air fresheners saw the strongest increase in this year. Car is the main mode of transportation for locals, and the majority of…

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,…

In line with global trends, department stores in Malaysia are losing appeal due to growing interest in fast-fashion retailers such as H&M, Zara, Uniqlo, and Padini which offer the latest fashions at relatively affordable prices. Small boutique stores…

Chained self-service cafeterias continued to see low levels of popularity in Malaysia at the end of the review period. The Ikea Restaurant brand maintained its dominant position in the market. Indeed, there are no other players with a significant…

Overall other hot drinks saw off-trade unit prices rise rapidly for the second consecutive year in 2023. This was attributable to the price volatility of key raw materials that Malaysia is import-reliant on – that is, wheat, cocoa, sugar and dairy…

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.…

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, hand sanitisers continued to see slowed growth within bath and shower in Malaysia in 2023, with a particularly sharp drop in demand from commercial players. Many consumers have turned to liquid soap as its products are generally more…

The full-service restaurants category is seeing growing consumer interest in Korean-influenced restaurants. The Muslim-dominated community in Malaysia is favouring Korean dining concepts, with food options such as Korean fried chicken, gaining…

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…

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…

In 2023, total packaging unit volumes for baby food recorded solid growth. Folding cartons and flexible plastic, the leading pack types for baby food, both registered rising packaging unit volumes in this year, with folding cartons outperforming…

The toys and games market witnessed current value growth in Malaysia in 2023. Construction and action figures were the two largest categories in traditional toys and games, with action figures proving to be a key growth driver during the year. IP…

In 2023, Starbucks launched its instant coffee mixes, such as the Starbucks VIA Spring Blend, featuring small portions packaged in flexible paper pouches and flexible paper sachets of 12 sticks in a multipack. This move towards smaller portions and…

The ageing population in Malaysia acted as a key driver of growth in retail adult incontinence in 2023. We also note that Rx/reimbursement adult incontinence is not relevant in the country, which further supports growth in a retail sense.

Sales in nappies/diapers/pants in Malaysia were driven by the performance of disposable pants in 2023. Such products are seen as the most convenient option, as they are easy to change and suitable for active babies and small children. Notably, the…