Asia Pacific

As the Chinese government lifted all COVID-19-related restrictions at the onset of 2023, sales of refrigeration appliances began to recover in light of the opening-up. However, this sudden change had different impacts on sales of freezers and…

Instant noodles continues to account for significant value sales in Kazakhstan and in 2023, is expected to outperform pasta and rice, registering very healthy volume growth. Russian company Mareven continues to lead, with its popular brands Rollton…

Retail volume sales of small cooking appliances are expected to decline by a high single-digit rate in 2023. In the post-pandemic era, demand for small cooking appliances has weakened further, mainly because consumers are cooking less at home. With…

Kazakhstan has strong trade links with Russia and its war in Ukraine is negatively impacting the economy and leading to high inflation. While skyrocketing international oil and gas prices is boosting the local economy, its usual outflow to the global…

In 2022, vacuum cleaners experienced disruption, with retail volume sales experiencing a decline. This was primarily due to the resurgence of COVID-19, which had a negative impact on production and delivery. However, following the end of the pandemic…

One of the most significant global issues concerning consumer credit is BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) services, which enable consumers without sufficient funds to make an immediate purchase, locally known as “thin filers”, to obtain goods and pay at a…

Gross consumer lending’s growth is continuing to outperform outstanding balance, driven by card lending, as local consumers spend more with the reopening of society and cross-border travel. However, outstanding balance on card lending (encompassing…

In 2022, the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, including the easing of social distancing rules, heralded a significant shift in local consumers’ behaviour. With a newfound freedom to venture outdoors, a growing number of individuals opted…

In 2023, the number of debit cards in circulation in South Korea continues to gradually decline following a steady upward trend over 2019-2021. The decline is primarily underpinned by two fundamental factors; namely the declining teenage population…

The landscape of card transactions in South Korea is undergoing a remarkable transformation marked by a gradual decline in cash usage. This paradigm shift is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of mobile financial services, a trend that has…

In 2022, South Korea witnessed growth in both the issuance and usage of pre-paid cards in line with greater mobility outside of the home. Shinhan Card, in particular, played a role in driving this growth, reporting a remarkable increase in the retail…

Store cards in South Korea is experiencing a trend of stagnant growth. Despite the enduring appeal of store cards and their unique set of benefits, the growth rates in both 2022 and 2023 feature stabilisation rather than substantial expansion.…

Continuing soaring inflation, including significant price rises for flour, is expected to see current value sales rise significantly, though constant value and volume growth is expected to be much more moderate, though positive, all the same.…

Bottled water is set to maintain off-trade volume and current value growth in 2023. In Japan, where tap water is drinkable, the culture of purchasing bottled water for home use was for a long time uncommon. However, the Great East Japan Earthquake of…

While breakfast cereal is expected to register double-digit value growth, constant value growth is expected to be minimal and volume sales are expected to fall. Continuing soaring inflation dampens volume growth, in spite of population growth, as…

In 2023, total volume sales of carbonates are set to decrease compared with 2022. On-trade volume sales are expected to increase thanks to a continued rebound in demand after the lifting of pandemic restrictions. However, off-trade volume sales are…

In 2023, sales of coffee in the foodservice channel are expected to record solid growth, thanks to the rebound of footfall in cafés and specialist coffee and tea shops. On 8 May 2023, the Japanese government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 to…

In 2023, liquid concentrates is set to see a decrease in off-trade volume and current value sales. This is mainly due to the decreased amount of time consumers having been spending at home in this year. Liquid concentrates saw a strong rise in…

In 2023, cooking ingredients and meals will see an improved performance in comparison with 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic finally coming to an end and inflation finally stabilising. In line with the economic reopening and tourism resuming, demand…

Energy drinks is set to record falling off-trade volume sales in 2023, with price increases by leading manufacturers a major factor contributing to decline. In response to the rising costs of materials, packaging, and transportation, energy drinks…