Thailand

Consumers’ return to busy, on-the-go lifestyles post-pandemic is bolstering sales of grab-and-go consumption. This is also benefitting yoghurt, which also enjoys a healthy image – especially single-serving, grab-and-go sales from convenience stores…

Writing instruments is expected to see a positive performance in both retail volume and current value terms in 2023, as people have returned to living their normal lives, and there is positive sentiment in the market. Furthermore, the rebound in…

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…

Womenswear in Thailand is seeing a shift in demand towards multi-purpose products. Although fashion remains the key concern when people are purchasing womenswear, consumers are also showing more concern with regard to the item’s functionality. This…

Wipes experienced a notable upswing in demand in 2023 driven by the versatility of these products, particularly in the context of their convenience for use while on the move but also at home. This increase in demand is reflective of evolving consumer…

Wine saw volume sales grow in Thailand in 2023. Imported wines, especially from traditional wine-producing regions like France, Italy, and Australia, are highly sought after in Thailand. The demand for imported wines continued to grow in 2023, driven…

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…

Wearable electronics continued to see positive growth in volume terms in 2023, albeit at a slower rate than the previous two years. This was driven by a number of factors, not least the health and wellness trend, which was facilitated by COVID-19.…

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…

Video games in Thailand significantly outperformed traditional toys and games in retail value sales and growth terms in 2023, continuing the trend witnessed during the review period. Interest spiked in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.…

Vending saw current value sales rise in Thailand in 2023. The country has been home to vending machines for over 20 years, but vending has recently gained ground with new brands entering the market and brining in new technology and payment systems.…

Vegetables in Thailand saw a notable and sustained increase in unit prices throughout 2022 and 2023, primarily attributed to the combined impact of drought and severe flooding. Drought conditions have resulted in reduced water availability for…

Sales of vacuum cleaners in Thailand continued to experience strong growth in retail volume terms in 2023 driven by various factors that reflect the changing lifestyles and priorities of the local population. Rapid technological advancements, coupled…

As of 1 October 2022, Thailand fully lifted all pandemic-related border requirements. To enter the country, international travellers no longer needed to show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test. This resulted in a strong recovery for…

Traditional toys and games in Thailand saw a slight increase in retail current value sales in 2023, although this equated to a marginal drop overall at constant 2023 prices. This reflected the tendency of new generations of younger consumers to seek…

The uncertain economic conditions in Thailand are expected to lead to slower retail volume and current value growth rates for traditional and connected watches in 2023, as consumers have battled inflationary rises in the cost of living and cost of…

Toys and games in Thailand experienced a slowdown in retail value growth in 2023, amid factors like a gradually slowing birth rate and falling 0-14-year-old population and economic pressures in an inflationary climate. Video games continued to…

The volume of inbound arrivals increased for the second consecutive year in 2023, following the lifting of all remaining COVID-19 related entry restrictions in October 2022. The return of tourists from other countries in Asia-Pacific, notably China,…

Toilet care presented an intriguing narrative in 2023, with the retail volume and current value growth rates experiencing an upward trajectory from the previous year. This growth, however, was juxtaposed against the nuanced dynamics of a niche…

The tobacco industry in Thailand registered a stagnant performance in 2023, in both volume and current value terms. At the same time, the number of smokers in the population fell for the second consecutive year, having risen during the pandemic. This…

With the exception of nappies/diapers, most retail tissue and hygiene categories recorded growth in volume terms in 2023, including key categories such as menstrual care and toilet paper. Sales of most products experience solid demand in 2023 due to…

Tea is a substantially smaller category than coffee, with sales being particularly limited through the foodservice channel. Unlike coffee, some establishments do not even serve tea, with consumption through the on-trade often limited to specialist…

Albeit growing from a small base in Thailand, consuming chocolate spreads with bread has been increasing in popularity, particularly among children. In addition, the range of such products that are available in various retail channels has been…

Sweet spreads is seeing stronger retail value growth compared to retail volume, due to price rises in the category. Health trends are also evident in sweet spreads, as many products contain high levels of sugar (e.g., jams and preserves and chocolate…

Sales of sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks are being boosted by the post-pandemic landscape in 2023, with consumers returning to their out-of-home, on-the-go lifestyles, alongside the revival of tourism. Tourism is a strong factor here, as…

The year 2023 witnessed a remarkable and positive surge in current value sales in surface care (excluding wipes – which did not have notable sales), surpassing the growth observed in 2022. This robust expansion can be attributed to two significant…

Current value sales continued to rise for supermarkets in Thailand in 2023, at a rate that was significantly faster than that posted in 2022. Supermarket operators in the country tend to target middle- to upper-income consumers, who are somewhat less…

Sunglasses in Thailand is continuing to recover in 2024, with positive growth in both volume and current value sales. More brands are interested in entering the local market and both chained and independent retailers are investing in expansion and…

Sun Care in Thailand saw growth driven by local consumers using sun care at younger ages than previously, as well as by the expansion of category products promising additional benefits to sun protection. Light and ultra-light textures are strong…

Sugar confectionery is considered as a very mature category in Thailand, with a large number of brands and a fairly fragmented competitive landscape beyond the leading names. Namely, Halls (Mondelez International (Thailand) Co Ltd) takes the lead…

Hikes in production costs have pushed up prices of sugar and sweeteners in Thailand. Retail prices rose throughout 2023, continuing a trend that began at the outbreak of COVID-19. Thailand's farmers and agricultural producers were threatened by the…

Street stalls /kiosks in Thailand witnessed healthy growth in current value terms in 2023, with sales approaching pre-pandemic levels. This was driven to a large extent by the recovery of both domestic and inbound tourism, as both locals and…

At the beginning of 2023, the Thai government launched the Shop Dee Mee Khuen (Shop and Pay tax deductions program) allowing a personal income tax deduction of up to THB40,000. This programme covers a variety of goods and services such as fuel, food…

The unit prices of starchy roots increased significantly throughout 2022 and 2023 due to constant rises in the costs of production and unfavourable weather conditions throughout the year. Like other fresh food categories, the farming and production…

Staple foods in Thailand is seeing an overall positive performance, in both value and volume terms. That said, the category continues to be affected by inflationary pressures which are pushing up prices, alongside the cost-of-living crisis which is…

Aligned with an increased focus on the importance of health and wellness among Thai consumers, there has been an increase in people taking part in workout routines and exercise activities. In 2023, sportswear brands have continued to leverage this…

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…

Off-trade sales of sports drinks saw an improved performance in volume terms in 2023, compared to the previous year. The core consumers of sport drinks in Thailand are blue-collar workers, such as farmers, drivers and labourers, who were particularly…

Spirits saw a rise in volume sales in Thailand in 2023. Thailand's vibrant hospitality and tourism industry makes a significant contribution to the consumption of spirits in the country. Tourist destinations, such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai,…

Spectacles in Thailand is benefiting from consumers’ habits and lifestyles in 2024, with persistent digitalisation and hybrid work arraignments supporting sales as people spend more time in front of screens. Spectacles are regarded as essential by…

PET bottles are the most widely used pack type for soft drinks packaging in Thailand as they are cost-effective, lightweight, durable, recyclable and widely available. This pack type grew along with most others as the soft drinks market continued its…

Sales of soft drinks saw healthy growth in volume terms in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. This was due partly to improved economic conditions, which had a positive impact on consumer spending. The ongoing recovery of inbound tourism…

Thailand’s full return to normality and tourism in 2023, with no more COVID-19-related restrictions or quarantines, is expected to boost the country’s overall economy and, in turn, positively benefit snacks. Indeed, consumers’ return to out-of-home…

Current value sales for traditional small grocers in Thailand continued to rise in 2023, though at a significantly slower rate than in 2022, as the trend towards shopping in small stores close to homes continued. Small local grocers also benefit from…

Small cooking appliances continued to see steady growth in retail volume terms in 2023, primarily driven by behavioural changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global health crisis forced people to adapt to a new normal, and one of…

In 2023 skin care in Thailand remained focused on the skinimalism trend, whereby the aim is to use relatively few steps in short but efficient skin care routines. The most important steps for Thai consumers are those centred on cleansing,…

Self-service cafeterias is a relatively niche category in Thailand, with Ikano (Thailand) Co Ltd being the only player. During 2023, the company registered healthy growth in current value terms, thanks to the revival of normal shopping behaviour in…

Savoury snacks is also benefitting from consumers’ return to out-of-home, on-the-go lifestyles, along with the revival of tourism. It should also be noted that potato chips, a popular category, was not too badly impacted by the era of the pandemic…

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…

Barbecue sauces are popular in Thailand due to their ability to infuse smoky, sweet and spicy flavours into grilled and roasted dishes, complementing the country’s rich culinary traditions. These sauces often feature a harmonious blend of local…