Asia Pacific

In 2023, health sensitivities among consumers in Laos, due to local diet and weather, have led to increased demand for consumer health products. Likewise, the prevalence of self-medication persists due to limited hospital access, leading consumers to…

Consumers are increasingly adopting a preventative approach to maintaining good health, which continues to drive interest in vitamins and dietary supplements in 2023. Established brands continue to dominate sales as brand loyalty is relatively high…

From a product perspective, embedded payment market competition has been intensified with digital players, which are challenging the card operators. For deposit and lending, leading banks such as Goldman Sachs and CIMB have made their names in the…

Although South Korea enjoys significant economic freedom, corruption amongst high-ranking officials is a blot on its political scene. Inflation is low and a trade deal could help exports, but the economy is slowing and foreign investment could be…

In 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic has lost some of its disruptive potency; however, analgesic sales in Azerbaijan are ticking upwards in value terms (with the exception of adult aspirin). Value sales are being pushed by Azerbaijan's reliance on imports,…

Analgesics is expected to register moderate constant value growth in 2023. In spite of continuing very high inflation, volume growth is also expected to be healthy, and is supported by continuing population growth. Price limits on analgesics is also…

Despite the overall waning impact of the pandemic in South Korea, simultaneous new outbreaks of COVID-19, influenza, and the common cold (referred to as a “tripledemic” in the country) are leading to a sharp increase in the number of consumers…

Consumer health in Azerbaijan is seeing something of a resurgence in 2023. New entrants are livening up the marketplace, and fresh medications are making their mark. The once-stringent Tariff Regulatory Authority has taken a step back, loosening the…

Pakistan’s economy continues to struggle and the government secured a further USD3 billion bailout with the IMF in July 2023, avoiding an impending default. Inflation continues to be very high and is being driven by several factors, including…

The self-medication trend is growing in South Korea, supporting further sales growth for analgesics, and cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, especially since the prevalence of the “tripledemic” in the country, consisting of COVID-19,…

As COVID-19 restrictions lift and society returns to face-to-face interaction, the regular seasonal sicknesses —colds and flus—are making their own return to Azerbaijan. More social mingling means not just handshakes and hugs on the rise; sniffling…

As people become more aware of the importance of self-care, there is a growing demand for OTC medications to treat cough and cold. Access to healthcare is limited and as such it is easier to buy OTC medications. Therefore, despite the increase in…

Like analgesics, sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies continue to rise, benefiting from the “tripledemic” of rising COVID-19 cases, the stronger return of influenza due to greater mobility outside of the home and contact with others,…

Dermatologicals in Azerbaijan is recording an upward trajectory in 2023 but at a pace that could generously be called moderate, and notably slower in terms of volume sales compared to 2022. When it comes to dermatologicals, local consumer education…

Skin diseases across all age groups continues to drive growth for dermatologicals. Skin diseases are common in rural areas due to poor hygiene and in urban areas due to overcrowded neighbourhoods, with many having no access to proper sanitary…

Dermatologicals is a saturated category in South Korea and has lost some of its growth momentum in terms of retail volume sales. A lack of new product development is one factor hampering stronger growth for some products, whilst another is increasing…

In dietary supplements in Azerbaijan, sales are seeing positive though slowed volume sale growth in 2023, buoyed by fierce competition among market players. However, there is a regulatory hurdle that is curbing growth potential, in that the…

Value sales for dietary supplements continue to be low in Pakistan and significantly lower than for vitamins. However, it is expected to register healthy growth in 2023, as wealthier consumers take increasingly take a preventative approach to their…

Ginseng remains by far the largest value category within dietary supplements in South Korea. As ginseng is well-known for its overall immunity support, this category is experiencing stable demand, whilst also remaining popular for gifting, with red…

Growth for digestive remedies in Azerbaijan is slow and steady in 2023. With the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, there was a brief shot of adrenaline as people returned to the office and resumed their social lives. However, any expectation…