Consumer Health

In late 2022 and into early 2023, a convergence of COVID-19, seasonal flu, and heightened influenza cases created what the media termed a "tripledemic," impacting Mexico, the US, and Central American nations. While Mexico did not experience the same…

In 2023, after three years of placing health at the forefront due to the pandemic, Mexicans have finally found some respite and are shifting their focus away from health concerns. While the public healthcare system grapples with supply shortages,…

In early 2023, a sixth wave of COVID-19 coincided with an upsurge in cases of the common cold and influenza, creating a "tripledemic" felt across Mexico, the US, and Central American countries, with Mexico experiencing a milder impact. This scenario…

While sales of dermatologicals continue to grow in 2023, reflecting a recovery from pandemic-related disruptions. demand is stabilising. Mexicans are no longer facing increased risks to their skin compared to the previous year, and some…

Following the emergence of the pandemic in 2020 and into the following year, dietary supplements experienced robust growth, fuelled by consumers' desire to boost their immune systems and overall health. However, consumer interests shifted during…

Over 2023, the Ministry of Tourism anticipates a return to pre-pandemic tourism levels, signalling an increase in foreign visitors to Mexico. However, this upsurge also implies a likelihood of tourists experiencing gastric issues, often resulting in…

In 2022, demand for eye care rebounded leading to a recovery for retail volume sales to pre-pandemic levels. However, 2023 is showing a more subdued trend. This can be attributed to the inflationary pressures experienced by Mexicans, which are…

Current value growth of herbal/traditional products is slowing in 2023 compared to the previous year. The influence of COVID-19 on demand for different herbal/traditional products was largely related to the overall performance of the core category…

Demand for NRT smoking cessation aids in Mexico continues to decline, despite the greater motivation among some consumers to quit smoking during the pandemic. It is worth noting that per capita smoking prevalence in Mexico is on the decline due to…

Amid a sixth wave of COVID-19 in early 2023, coinciding with the typical flu and cold season in Mexico, schools emerged as hotspots for disease transmission. The resulting discomfort in children and parents' heightened concern for their wellbeing led…

In 2022, sleep aids experienced double-digit value growth, and this trend is continuing into 2023, with even more impressive retail volume growth as well. The catalyst for this growth is undoubtedly the lingering effects of the pandemic, which…

As pandemic-related restrictions have gradually eased in Mexico, the number of local consumers engaging in exercise has witnessed a rapid rebound. According to the latest data from INEGI (Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography), in…

Local consumer interests are shifting in terms of priorities towards pleasure, entertainment, and travel, with a diminishing focus on prevention. Vitamins, once heralded as essential to strengthen the immune system, are now experiencing slower growth…

Direct selling plays a pivotal role in the distribution and marketing of weight management and wellbeing in Mexico, particularly in the crucial category of meal replacement. However, major direct selling players are encountering challenges in…

Following a weaker retail volume decline in 2022 compared to the previous year as Mexicans fully returned to their daily routines, demand for wound care is once again experiencing a notable drop in 2023. Emerging from the pandemic lockdown meant a…

The return of consumers to their busy-pandemic lifestyles had a positive impact on demand for analgesics in Malaysia in 2023. Within this, topical analgesics/anaesthetic remained the largest subcategory, as well as being the key driver of growth.…

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Malaysian consumers have been increasingly focused on preventative health measures, and this trend continued into 2023. Alongside the adoption of healthier diets and exercise behaviours, consumers sought out vitamins…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies witnessed an improved performance in constant value terms in 2023. This was due, in a large part, to a return of pre-pandemic lifestyles, including the reopening of schools and workspaces, which…

Dermatologicals saw an overall increase in demand in 2023, although performance varied somewhat by subcategory Nappy (diaper) rash treatments, for example, benefited from the return of consumers to more active lifestyles outside the home, which meant…

With COVID-19 still a relatively recent memory, Malaysians continued to place a strong emphasis on preventative health measures, including the intake of dietary supplements. Consumers saw these products as an effective way of boosting their immune…

Antacids continued as the key driver of growth within digestive remedies in 2023. With Malaysians returning to their stressful, on-the-go lifestyles, they were less likely to eat healthy meals and were hence more prone to digestive complaints, such…

Eye care continued to see robust growth in retail volume terms in 2023, with standard eye care leading the way. Malaysians typically spend long periods of time on digital devices, a practice which is linked to a range of vision issues, including…

Herbal and traditional products have a long-standing tradition within consumer health in Malaysia. Such products are often sold in kiosks, as well as herbal/traditional healthcare stores, and as such, are easy to obtain. For example, Tongkat Ali, one…

An increasing of smokers looked to quit the habit in 2023 and as such, retail volume sales of NRT smoking cessation aids continued to see strong growth as a result. The Malaysian government also continued to with its efforts to raise awareness of the…

Despite the fact that fears surrounding COVID-19 had largely subsided by 2023, many parents remained concerned about their children’s health, and as such, showed a willingness to invest in preventative health solutions. For example, paediatric…

Sports nutrition continued to see dynamic growth in constant value terms in 2023, as consumers returned to their active lifestyles. Sales also benefited from opening of more gyms and fitness centres, following the ending of various pandemic-related…

Demand for vitamins continued to grow at a rapid pace in 2023 as Malaysians increasingly focused on preventative health measures. Indeed, despite the transition of COVID-19 into an endemic virus, consumers continued to seek out products that claimed…

Weight management and wellbeing continued to record healthy growth in both volume and constant value terms in 2023. This was led by supplement nutrition drinks, continuing the pattern seen over the review period. Consumers are becoming increasingly…

Wound care continued to see positive growth in retail volume terms in 2023, as life returned to normal following the pandemic. With people spending more time outside the home, including taking part in sport, this led to an increase in the number of…

Sales of analgesics in Japan have seen solid growth in current value terms in 2023 backed by increased opportunities for consumers to go out, the recovery in the number of inbound tourists, and a move away from the practice of wearing face masks on a…

When it comes to pain management, analgesics is a popular category, specifically acetaminophen. For many consumers, acetaminophen is their go-to preference as it is easily available across various channels. Additionally, it can be bought without…

Towards the end of the review period, demand for analgesics was supported by the widening of the consumer base for these products as the advantages of using analgesics to manage headaches and other moderate types of pain became better known among the…

Sales of OTC products in Japan continue on the path to recovery in 2023 as the country sees an end to the pandemic. With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the pandemic to be over in early 2023 there have been increased opportunities to go…

During the review period, many consumers have been facing financial difficulties as the cost of living in South Africa has been increasing on a monthly basis. For many consumers, their health is an afterthought with most instead prioritising…

Positive sales growth was registered across most categories of consumer health in the Philippines in 2023 as the strong focus on health and wellbeing that has spread among the population since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spur…

Sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in Japan have continued to recover in 2023. This is largely due to increased opportunities for consumers to go out and a shift away from the practice of wearing face masks on a daily basis. With…

During the review period, the flu and allergy season in South Africa was rife specifically during the winter periods. Given the presence of several flu strains and allergies, consumers reached out to cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) products to…

In the Philippines, one interesting aspect of OTC products in general and cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in particular is that consumers are generally very aware of the active ingredients that are contained within these products and the…

Dermatologicals has seen a return to growth in current value terms in 2023, which is mainly due to the waning impact of COVID-19 on consumer lifestyles and behaviours. Antipruritics is one of the largest categories within dermatologicals and has also…

Many consumers in South Africa rely on pharmacist recommendations when it comes to dermatological products. Most consumers within South Africa are highly unlikely to visit a doctor or even a dermatologist to treat some dermatological issues. As a…

2023 saw rising demand for dermatologicals supported by the return to pre-pandemic daily routines and lifestyles as greater exposure to the causes of various mild skin conditions resulted in a higher incidence of skin infections and parasite-related…

Similar to the pattern seen in vitamins, sales of dietary supplements continue to see steady growth in current value terms in 2023 due to increasing health consciousness. The market has been hit by the rising cost of raw materials and production…

During the review period, South Africa experienced high levels of inflation that impacted essential categories such as food, fuel and even mortgage payments. Consumers were cutting down on discretionary spending as they had less disposable income.…

Probiotic supplements generated further positive sales growth in 2023 as the category continued to recover from the significant sales declines registered in 2021. Many consumers began taking probiotic products as a way of strengthening their immune…

Sales of digestive remedies continue to see a strong recovery in 2023 in current value terms. Sales are rebounding from the negative impact of the pandemic with the lifting of restrictions increasing the opportunities for consumers to go out to eat…

Since 2022, South Africa has been suffering from rolling electricity blackouts. The scheduled blackouts can often occur in some areas around two to three times a day. Moreover, these blackouts often occur during mealtimes. This has created a strong…

One factor that spurred growth in sales of OTC digestive remedies during 2023 was the return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, with the accelerating pace of life in Philippine cities encouraging consumers to eat fast food and convenience food more often,…

With the pandemic declared to be over in 2023, sales of both standard eye care and allergy eye care have benefited from increased opportunities to get out and about, a recovery in the number of inbound travellers, but also high pollen counts.…

During 2023, more consumers suffered from eye health issues due to much more time spent using technology, such as computers and laptops. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, children were unable to go to school or workers to their workplace and…

The key trend behind rising demand for standard eye care in the Philippines is the increased amount of screen time in the daily lives of many local people. Indeed, dramatic increases have been seen in the amount of time that Philippine consumers…