Beverage alcohol in Asia Pacific markets is showing positive signs of recovery, expected to gain over +2% in volume and over +4% in retail value by the end of 2021, according to new forecasts from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

IWSR’s examination of data from 19 markets across the Asia Pacific region shows that total beverage alcohol volume in Asia Pacific decreased by approximately -8% in 2020.

IWSR forecasts that long-term volume recovery in the APAC region will return to pre-COVID-19 levels by 2025 (lagging two years behind global alcohol’s forecasted rebound from the near complete shutdown of bars and restaurants in 2020).

With the exception of wine, which is expected to show volume declines at the regional level, each of the other major alcohol categories are projected to post volume growth in APAC (beer at nearly +2%; spirits under +0.5%; ready-todrink (RTDs) at almost +6%; and cider at over +1% volume CAGR 2021-2025).

“Though an unprecedented downturn, the decline in beverage alcohol in Asia Pacific was less than previously forecast, as several factors ultimately helped the industry last year,” said Sarah Campbell, research director for the Asia Pacific at IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

“The acceleration of ecommerce, growth of RTDs, strong at-home consumption in key markets, and the resilience of countries such as China and Australia, will underpin the region’s growth going forward,” Campbell added.

Travel retail, hit particularly hard by COVID-19-led shutdowns in international travel and tourism, lost over -70% volume in Asia Pacific last year, but the IWSR predicts volume in the channel will grow by over +50% in 2021.

Green shoots in the region include the Chinese government’s decision to designate Hainan as a duty-free territory for beverage alcohol, boosting global travel retail activity long-term.

The IWSR’s comprehensive analysis of the beverage alcohol market in major countries in the region also shows:

Australia

Australia is mostly an off-trade market, so growth in retail was easily able to compensate for on-premise losses in most categories during Covid, and the migration of travel retail sales to the domestic market provided an additional boost as well. In total, beverage alcohol in Australia grew by about +3% last year, the most of any country in the region. The beer category showed volume growth of nearly +3% in 2020, a bright spot against beer’s general declining trend in other global markets. The overall wine category saw a decline, but Champagne performed well, growing by more than +12%. Spirits and RTDs were the two categories that experienced the largest volume gains in 2020. IWSR forecasts that the Australian total beverage alcohol market will soften slightly over the next 5 years.

China

The short lockdown in China, the largest alcohol market in the world, is unlikely to have long term impact on consumer behaviour in terms of beverage alcohol consumption. Due to its reliance on the on-trade, total beverage alcohol volume was hit hard by Covid (at close to -6% 2019 to 2020). However, it is expected to grow by nearly +4% in 2021. Flavoured spirits and RTDs performed well in 2020, as did single malts, which is one of the few drinks that Chinese consumers enjoy at home or in small groups (+20% in 2020). Spirits overall, however, were down close to -5% in the country last year (or close to -3% excluding national spirits, such as Baijiu). Ecommerce saw impressive growth in the market from an already large base, and online sales of beverage alcohol in China are expected to continue growing over the next five years, despite the market’s skew to the on-trade.

India

With lockdown in India resulting in the closure of all bars and most liquor stores in the country, total beverage alcohol volume declined by close to -30% last year. The market is expected to rebound, however, to over +8% volume CAGR 2021-2025. Total spirits are forecasted to grow by almost +5% CAGR 2021-2025, and beer is expected to post growth of nearly +13% volume CAGR during that same period. Whisky in India, the dominant spirits category, was down -16% in 2020 but ultra-premium-and-above Scotch enjoyed growth, as did Irish and Japanese whiskies, driven by wealthy consumers in the market. Unlike many other countries in the region, alcohol ecommerce does not play a critical role, due to government regulations and limited channel investment.

Japan

Total beverage alcohol was down close to -5% in Japan in 2020, but the market is expected to rebound to pre-COVID-19 volume levels by 2024, forecasted at over +2% volume CAGR 2021-2025. The ready-to-drink category in Japan represents about 20% of the global RTD market, and grew at close to +12% in 2020. The vast majority of RTD sales in the country go through the off-trade so the category was well-insulated from lockdowns. Total beverage alcohol volume in Japan is forecasted to grow over the next five years, with RTDs projected to grow at nearly +6% volume CAGR 2021-2025.

Philippines

Although total beverage alcohol volumes declined in the Philippines in 2020, the market is expected to post volume gains of nearly +7% in 2021, and will continue to grow over the next 5 years. IWSR forecasts that total beverage alcohol volumes in the Philippines will rebound to pre-COVID-19 levels by 2023. Although beer volumes declined in 2020, wine and spirits volumes both increased (wine by +3% and spirits by almost +2%). Driving spirits growth was gin, up nearly +7% last year – notable given that the Philippines is already the world’s largest gin market.

Singapore

Total beverage alcohol volume in Singapore was down close to -9% in 2020, driven by beer, which represents over 80% of all alcohol consumption in the market and saw volumes plummet due to decreases in outdoor social occasions and out-of-home dining. About 75% of wine volume in the market goes through the off-trade, which helped that category’s performance (up close to +12%) thanks to increased at-home consumption and less widespread restaurant restrictions. IWSR forecasts that total beverage alcohol volume in the country will grow by about +4% CAGR 2021-2025, bouncing back to pre-pandemic volumes by 2022.

Thailand

The economy in Thailand was hit hard by the lack of international travel last year as alcohol sales in the country are quite reliant on Western tourists. The large local spirits market remained resilient throughout 2020 due to innovation and off-trade dominance. IWSR forecasts that total beverage alcohol will post almost +4% CAGR growth in the market 2021-2025, led by beer, wine, and RTDs.

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