Malaysia

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…

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,…

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…

Personal luxury is set to see current value growth of 11% in 2023 to reach MYR8.4 billion, supported by strong performances from leading brand providers, such as Louis Vuitton Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hermes Retail (M) Sdn Bhd and Richemont Luxury Malaysia…

Further strides have been made in tackling corruption, but government integrity has dropped, leading to deteriorating economic freedom. Although economic growth slowed markedly, it remains solid and is leading to jobs creation, helping to control…

Pet care saw solid retail current value growth in Malaysia in 2023, with this trend set to continue in 2024. Improved GDP growth, a subsiding inflation rate, and stable disposable incomes have helped to sustain growth for pet food and pet products in…

Pet products is set to maintain solid current value growth in Malaysia in 2024, with growth across all categories. However, cat litter is expected to see by far the strongest increase. The cat population continued to rise in 2023, and this trend is…

In 2021, Asia Pacific ranked first globally in terms of production output of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, with a turnover of USD857 billion. Over 2021-2030, the region is expected to record the fastest production growth globally,…

“Other” plant-based milk is projected to continue to see dynamic retail volume and current value and foodservice volume growth to continue to gain on soy drinks over 2023. “Other” plant-based milk is increasingly present on menus in foodservice…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Value sales of premium and luxury cars are set to rise by 5% in current terms to total MYR13.4 billion in 2023. Growth is being supported by elevated demand from more affluent consumers who are continuing to invest in new vehicles despite the…

Premium beauty and personal care continued to flourish in Malaysia in 2023, with the fuller return to in-person and the increase in inbound tourism helping to fuel growth. Premium skin care was one of the top performers as sales rose rapidly, thanks…

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…

Metal food cans remain the dominant pack type for shelf stable fruit and vegetables in Malaysia. This dominance, extending to products like beans, fruits and tomatoes, has persisted for years, with no changes seen in 2023. The primary reason behind…

Chilled processed meat is only packaged in flexible plastic in Malaysia. This encompasses a variety of formats, including hermetically sealed packs, flow wraps, overwraps and other non-stand-up pouch materials. Flexible plastic offers a significant…

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…

Growth in packaging demand accelerated sharply in ready meals during 2020. COVID-19 led to consumers spending more time at home, while foodservice outlets were forced to close for an extended period. In this context, demand for ready meals grew as an…

With a turnover of USD365.8 billion in 2021, Asia Pacific was the world’s second largest region for recreation, entertainment and arts. Over the next decade, the region’s entertainment industry is poised to grow at the fastest rate, nearly closing…

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…

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.

Celebrating its first year in the Malaysian market, TikTok Shop has become the fastest-growing emerging e-commerce player in Southeast Asia, operating as an online marketplace within the TikTok video-sharing platform. The player attributes its…

Following reopened borders and lifted restrictions in 2022, Malaysia's retail sector witnessed a surge in consumer revenge spending throughout the year. However, starting from the second quarter of 2023, the trend showed signs of decline as consumer…

We note a trend towards premiumisation in retail tissue in 2023 in Malaysia. This is evidenced by Vinda Deluxe (Vinda Malaysia Sdn Bhd) continuing to grow its share. This player uses strong marketing and promotional campaigns across online platforms,…

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…

RTD coffee is seeing fairly stable, albeit low, volume sales in both on-trade and off-trade terms. This is supported by the popularity of coffee in the country overall, with reports in mid-to-late 2023 citing Malaysia as ranked third in Asia Pacific…

Fountain sales and on-trade volume growth are supported in RTD tea, in part due to the expansion of hotels in Malaysia, such as the Hyatt Place Kuala Lumpur, INNSiDE by Meliá Kuala Lumpur, and Courtyard by Marriott Melaka. It has become the norm for…

Wine-based RTDs was the most dynamic category in total volume terms in 2022. This was a turnaround in fortunes for a category which was in decline even before the pandemic. The category benefited from the lifting of restrictions on bars/pubs and…

With production of USD967 billion, Asia Pacific was the largest rubber and plastic producer globally in 2020. Regional production of rubber and plastic products remains highly concentrated in China, Japan and South Korea. Over 2021-2030, Asia Pacific…

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…

In Malaysia, glass bottles are the dominant pack type used in ketchup packaging. These bottles, whether cylindrical or sporting unique shapes, offer a distinct advantage – transparency. Consumers can easily see the rich colour and consistency of the…

The rate of growth in demand for sauces, dressings and condiments packaging accelerated sharply during 2020. Demand for cooking sauces, dry sauces, herbs and spices, and bouillon recorded major spikes in their packaging unit volumes used in this…

Savoury snacks in Malaysia is grappling with a persistent disruption in the supply of raw materials in 2023. This supply shortage, coupled with price increases, has led to a surge in production costs, particularly impacting potato chips and other…

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…

Anti-agers continued to thrive in Malaysia in 2023, driving overall growth and development for skin care and leading growth within the category in both volume and current value terms. Anti-agers benefits from regular and frequent new and innovative…

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…

One of the most important pandemic-related impacts on small local grocers was the huge shift towards working from home. This deprived many operators of an extremely important consumer base of busy, urban professionals looking for a quick and easy…

Heated tobacco products saw solid current value growth and moderate retail volume growth in 2023. Compared with cigarettes, the competitive price of heated tobacco benefits the category. In addition, wider availability in convenience stores,…

The ongoing inflation in Malaysia is set to continue exerting an upward pressure on unit prices in 2023, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in 2022. This rising trend, notably within the confectionery sector, is impacting consumer behaviour.…

Sales of soft drinks in Malaysia are generally benefitting from the rebound of tourism and foodservice in the post-pandemic landscape. For example, fountain sales are accelerating for carbonates and RTD tea, supported by the growth of hotels in the…

The trend of label-free packaging in PET bottles is gaining momentum, particularly supported by top brands like Spritzer in bottled water. Spritzer launched label-free, 100% recyclable bottles for its silica-rich Natural Mineral Water, marking a…

Current value growth in spectacles in Malaysia is being driven by premiumisation trends in 2024. Malaysians are typically brand conscious and show a strong appetite for luxury and premium spectacle frames. The trend is supported by the growing number…

Sales of spirits rebounded strongly in total volume terms in 2022 although the performances of the different categories varied. For instance, standard vodka as well as standard and premium English gin enjoyed healthy growth in total volume terms in…

Volume sales in sports drinks are being suppressed by unit price hikes for a second consecutive year. Whilst the post-pandemic landscape supports sales of sports drinks in theory, the inflationary environment is creating challenges. Within this…

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…

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…

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…

Jom Cha by Farm Fresh is one of the latest street stalls/kiosks serving varieties of drinks such as bubble tea. One of the marketing tactics employed is the use of renowned fresh milk, Farm Fresh, which is produced locally and enables the player to…