Malaysia

Sales of wine declined sharply during 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed to contain it. The category saw a strong recovery in 2022 as these restrictions were eased and tourists returned, and this recovery continued…

2023 was a difficult year for spirits with sales declining sharply in on-trade volume terms and stagnating in off-trade volume terms. High inflation and a weakening of the Malaysian ringgit manifests led to a significant increase in the prices of…

RTDs is a relatively small category within alcoholic drinks in Malaysia with sales largely focused on spirit-based RTDs. Like most other categories of alcoholic drinks, sales of RTDs dropped sharply in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19 and…

Manufacturers of cider/perry continued to experience challenges in 2023 due to rising operating costs (eg transportation, labour, utilities and more) and elevated inflation. Hence, players like Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd…

Beer plays a central role in the sale of alcoholic drinks in Malaysia accounting for the majority of sales in total volume terms. Having seen a sharp decline in sales following the outbreak of COVID-19, beer witnessed a strong recovery amid a full…

Elevated rates of inflation impacted consumer spending behaviour in 2023 with locals increasingly only purchasing alcoholic drinks during price promotions, which are usually organised around festive seasons such as Chinese New Year and Christmas.…

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…

In 2023, Malaysia ranked eighth among Asia Pacific nations in terms of average gross income. The country’s disposable income levels increased over the year, albeit at a slower pace than in 2022, reflecting the global economic challenges and…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends on key commodities markets. The commodities overview in Malaysia covers production and consumption trends in agricultural commodities, energy…

In 2023, cigarettes faced intense competition from e-vapour products as younger adults of legal smoking age switched to the latter, which they perceived as more affordable, with lower nicotine levels and a variety of flavour options available across…

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 continuous pressure of inflation and a weakening of the local currency against the US dollar has increased prices across the category, slowing the post-pandemic retail volume recovery of cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco. Local consumers…

Overall, economy and premium cigarettes gained retail volume share at the expense of mid-priced brands in 2023. The main reason for this trend was high inflation, which drove up living costs and increased cigarette prices. British American Tobacco…

Consumer Lifestyles offers valuable insights into key consumer attitudes and current thinking, and their impact on purchasing and consumption habits; quantifying behaviours, preferences and motivations, and aligning them with broader trends.

This report visually explores everyday habits and behaviours which reflect consumers' beliefs and values, linking behavioural trends with purchase and consumption habits. 

In 2023, glass jars remained the dominant packaging type for sweet spreads. Jams and preserves dominate sweet spreads packaging in Malaysia, with glass jars the dominant pack type in this category. Glass is an inert material, meaning it does not…

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…

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…

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…

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…