Asia Pacific

The increased demand for convenience is a major trend in the Indonesian packaging industry. This is due to a number of factors, including busier lifestyles, rising incomes and changing demographics. Packaging companies are responding to this trend by…

In India, the demand for larger pack sizes, which offer better value for money, has surged due to inflation, especially in the wine industry, where 750ml sizes are popular for both individual consumption and sharing during social gatherings. The rise…

An increasing number of brands are incorporating eco-friendly practices into their packaging to mitigate environmental concerns. Hong Kong consumers are becoming more inclined towards brands that follow sustainable initiatives. Leading skin care and…

Packaging in China is undergoing notable shifts across various industries, driven by consumer preferences, environmental concerns and innovative design approaches. In alcoholic drinks, metal packaging, particularly metal beer bottles, has been…

Although Tonga is ‘moderately free’ for Economic Freedom, it is relatively stable politically and had solid state finances. The economy is overly reliant on remittances and tourism, which could lead it to underperform compared to its peers, whilst it…

Global growth is set to slow in 2024 as a result of high cost pressures for businesses and consumers, especially high interest rates. Asia Pacific will continue to stand out as the main global growth region while advanced economies decelerate.…

Although government finances are solid and monetary freedom rank high, the Solomon Islands suffers from pervasive corruption and low investment freedom. Economic performance is expected to be below peers over the near term. The population is young…

Samoa is a politically stable country with a budget surplus. However, the large influence of the state and significant exposure to tourism could weigh on economic performance in the medium term. Although the country is young and growing, its…

Retail sales of staple foods continued to see healthy growth in both volume and real value terms in Asia Pacific in 2023. This was despite foodservice sales seeing a spike in demand in 2023 after 2022 had seen the return of lockdowns in China. Asia…

Retail sales of wound care products in Thailand experienced accelerated growth in current value terms in 2023, following the return of consumers to more active lifestyles outside the home. With the resumption of sports and other outdoor activities…

With the revival of pre-pandemic lifestyles in 2023, including the return of individuals to their physical workplaces and social activities, many Thais looked to shed the excess weight they had gained during the pandemic. This helped to drive strong…

2023 witnessed remarkable growth for vitamins in current value terms, continuing the trend of the previous year. Persistent concerns surrounding COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, coupled with ongoing health concerns, sustained a robust demand…

Sports nutrition products enjoyed dynamic growth in current value terms in 2023. As fears surrounding COVID-19 eased, consumers returned to their normal activities, including taking part in physical exercise. This included outdoor sports, like…

Tuvalu has favourable political freedom, but a high dependency ratio and poor regulatory environment. Economy slowly recovered from COVID-19 pandemic and related slowdown, bolstered by the seafaring sector. Nevertheless, further growth will remain…

Papua New Guinea faces considerable hurdles, marked by pervasive corruption and limited economic freedom. Country’s economy, heavily reliant on the uncertain global commodity market, is further strained by low productivity due to extensive…

North Korea’s autocratic regime is the most repressed globally for economic freedom, which propagates corruption, but sanctions could bring the country to the negotiating table. The command economy has been crippled by these sanctions, and remains…

Mongolia is a peaceful country, but with high levels of corruption and fragile governance. The economic growth should accelerate in 2023, supported by the vast mining sector, but the country’s dependence on this sector leaves it vulnerable.…

Macau, China benefits from political stability, but its ageing population could make increasing demands on government finances in the future. As the world’s largest gambling hub, Macau’s economy is heavily dependent on revenues from casinos, making…

Political instability is frequent and Kyrgyzstan fell into ‘mostly unfree’ for economic freedom ranking. Economic growth is forecast to be slower than peers and below the pre-pandemic levels. Population growth will add to consumer market appeal and a…

Paediatric vitamins and dietary supplements remained the largest and most dynamic product area in current value terms in 2023, with parents remaining keen to protect their children’s health. As demand grew, so too did the variety of offerings, with…