Asia Pacific

Store cards remains a negligible category in the country. The majority of establishments in India tend to offer loyalty cards (these can be used to add and store reward points as credit currency, a simpler solution without the threat of debt…

With many consumers spending more time at home due to the pandemic, the home cooking trend was bolstered in 2020. This led to a decline in ready meals packaging volumes in 2019-2020 as more people cooked from scratch. In 2021, the home cooking trend…

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of sauces, dressings and condiments in Thailand was minimal, as many of these products are used in small quantities in cooking and to accompany meals, and because they can therefore be used for a…

The packaging unit volumes of thin wall plastic containers used in shelf stable ready meals saw notable growth in 2020, with slower but still positive growth being seen in 2021. This can be attributed to the onset of the pandemic and related…

In line with the continuing home-cooking trend, the packaging unit volumes of aluminium/plastic pouches and glass jars used in cooking sauces rose notably in 2020, with further growth in 2021. However, growth slowed in the latter year as some…

While consumption of shelf stable ready meals continued to increase in both 2020 and 2021, growth in this category was curbed due to the surging interest in cooking meals at home from scratch using fresh ingredients that has been seen among the…

Fish sauces, considered an essential among many households in Vietnam, continued to see positive growth in 2020 and 2021, supported by foodservice closures, which increased the frequency of home cooking. Of its two pack types, glass bottles is faring…

Cider/perry held only a negligible presence in India in 2021. Given the country’s hot climate and interest in sparkling drinks it would suggest there is a potential market for these products, although currently cider/perry is only being produced on a…

Asian speciality drinks was well-positioned to benefit from the increased focus on health brought about by COVID-19. However, most of these products are also available in liquid concentrate format. With consumers staying at home, off-trade volume…

Sales of Asian speciality drinks in South Korea continue to grow in 2022 as consumers look for perceived healthier drink options. In addition to the longer-term pursuit of healthier lifestyles, the pandemic encouraged local consumers to seek clear…

The US’s large military presence on Guam makes the territory a target for attacks by nations looking to lower US power in Asia Pacific. Guam is highly reliant on US federal funding, exposing the territory to changes in US military spending. Tourism…

As charge cards caters to higher-income earners, it is still only small in the Philippines in 2022. Credit cards have low penetration in the country and it is thus to be expected that more premium card products will have an even smaller market. Even…

Store cards are not available in Taiwan. Hypermarket chain Carrefour was the last retailer to offer such cards and it ceased its operations in 2005. A trend towards alternative payment options such as digital wallets and the widespread popularity of…

American Express signed a partnership with Vietnam JSC Bank for Industry & Trade (Vietinbank) in 2021 to increase acceptance of its cards in Vietnam. However, charge cards are not issued in Vietnam and there is unlikely to be any significant demand…

Store cards have a negligible presence in Vietnam with there being little interest or awareness of these card products. Furthermore, the government strictly controls the supply of credit in Vietnam which makes it a complicated and lengthy process to…

Nauru’s political landscape is stable, but is sometimes autocratic in nature. The country’s biggest challenge is to diversify the economy away from phosphate production. Nevertheless, planned infrastructure projects could enhance Nauru’s appeal. Its…

Political upheaval has been caused by transitioning to a new constitution, whilst economic freedom is suppressed, given ineffective observance of the rule of law. The economy could outperform peers, owing to strength in agriculture and greater…

Significant divisions exist between New Caledonia’s indigenous population and its European counterparts, creating political instability. Substantial reliance on nickel is a risk for the economy, which was in recession in 2020. The prospect of…

Authoritarian rule has created political stability in Tajikistan, but economic freedom has suffered as a result. The economy is expected to outperform peers in the short term, but a narrow export base creates risks for the external sector. Tajikistan…

There were no self-service cafeterias operating in the Philippines at the end of the review period and in 2021.