China

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…

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…

In 2023, deodorants in China exhibited a modest recovery, after recording a decline in 2022 during the pandemic outbreaks, although sales did not return to the 2021 level. Leading players such as Nivea (Beiersdorf) and Unilever continued to face…

Despite seeing a halt to the decline in outlet numbers in 2023, hypermarkets continued its long-standing decline in retail current value terms in China in 2023. One driver of the fall in sales is that the channel is under intense competition from…

Despite the anticipated recovery in commercial activities in 2023, following the easing of COVID-19-related restrictions in China, sales of polishes experienced another year of only moderate value growth, while volume sales declined. This was mainly…

In 2023, retail value sales of laundry care in China saw moderate growth. Overall demand for new purchases has slowed down in the post-pandemic era, because stockpiling consumers need to consume laundry care products that they stocked up during the…

In 2023, retail sales of air care products continued to grow in both volume and value. The annual sales growth rate in 2023 rebounded compared to the pandemic years from 2020 to 2022, although achieving the near double-digit annual sales growth rates…

With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the normalisation of offline classes, the supressed demand for writing instruments amongst students was released in 2023, when stores selling stationery reopened offline. However, online schooling during…

Following the end of the zero-COVID policy, sales of jewellery, which remained stagnant in 2022, have witnessed a resurgence in 2023, with double-digit current value growth expected in the year overall. The increasing prevalence of social activities,…

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…

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…

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…

After a year of minimal current value growth in 2022, when consumers limited their trips outside the home due to COVID-19 outbreaks, vending saw a strong increase in its growth rate in China in 2023. A double-digit rise was seen in value sales –…

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…

While the dog population has been declining, the cat population has been expanding, and this is expected to continue in 2024. In a notable shift, the cat population surpassed that of dogs for the first time in 2021, and the gap has continued to widen…

Several years of current value decline were seen in direct selling in China during the pandemic, as the direct selling business model relies heavily on hosting meetings or gatherings to introduce products and recruit new sales personnel, which was…

In 2023, the 3-year growth streak for general purpose wipes ended as emergent demands coming from the pandemic saw sharp decline and the growth pattern for the category returned to normal. While personal hygiene awareness is here to stay, Chinese…

Despite the overall economy rebound in 2023 with the lifting of pandemic restrictions and the resumption of offline activities, menstrual care continued its stable growth in 2023 as it is a very mature category in China with a high penetration rate…

Bleach saw low single-digit growth in retail value in 2023, though the growth rate continued fell compared with the previous two years. Bleach saw relatively strong growth during the period 2020-2022 compared to previous years, mainly due to…