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Consumers

Consumers
News about consumer spending and shifting shopping habits from around the world with a focus on developments in Hong Kong and mainland China.
A person on an electric scooter passes a jeepney at a transport terminal in Quezon City on March 19. The Philippines is grappling with a national energy emergency triggered by the war in Iran. Photo: EPA
The Philippines

Why high fuel costs could accelerate the Philippines’ EV boom

Vietnam’s VinFast is seizing the moment by offering incentives for drivers to make the switch from petrol-powered vehicles to electric.

Electric & new energy vehicles

More foreign marques face a do-or-die moment as Chinese buyers shun petrol cars

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China consumption

China’s luxury spending seen boosting global sales in 2026 despite headwinds

Tianjin

Japanese chains lose ground in north China as competition and deflation bite

Store closures in Beijing and Tianjin highlight mounting pressure from domestic rivals amid shifting consumer habits.

Analysts say Japanese retailers must adapt more quickly to China’s evolving retail landscape. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong consumers need not be at sea when it comes to oysters

Readers discuss safety when processing and consuming oysters, the handling of an incident on the MTR’s East Rail line, and school classroom management.

Food and agriculture

China to boost frozen pork reserves as hog prices tumble to multi-year troughs

The national average hog price fell to an eight-year low of 10.68 yuan per kg in the fourth week of March.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla outraces China’s BYD in pure electric car sales to regain world’s top spot

Shrinking subsidies, new taxes sap China’s EV demand, giving Tesla an edge in global deliveries for first time since fourth quarter of 2024.

Drivers charge their vehicles at a Tesla supercharger station. Photo: TNS
Hong Kong stock market

China’s Pop Mart struggles despite buy-backs as Labubu reliance sparks concerns

Toymaker’s shares have fallen nearly 50 per cent since February as investors weigh slowing overseas growth and dependence on flagship line.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

Chinese EV maker lifts overseas sales target as rising fuel costs and easing tariffs boost demand abroad.

China’s private sector

Splashing out: how much would you expect to pay for LV’s latest quirky man bag?

Offbeat designs may not drive sales, but they sharpen brand identity and attract individuality-seeking buyers, analysts say.

Louis Vuitton’s watering can bag sprinkles novelty on luxury. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China EV makers surge back in March as subsidies and financing spur demand

Carmakers report strong month-on-month gains as policy support and new financing schemes lift buyer sentiment.

The EV rebound has been underpinned by renewed policy support at the local level. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

The Iran war could be forcing Filipinos to rely on credit cards. Here’s why

Analysts warn credit card use could increase further to partly cope with higher prices and reduced disposable incomes.

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China inflation

China has ‘room’ for imported inflation, but economic risks rising: PBOC adviser

As US-Israel war with Iran sends prices up, a monetary expert says impact on China depends on conflict’s severity, while higher energy costs are worrying.

Fashion

How London brand Chopova Lowena, and its cult carabiner skirt, came to be

Harry Styles, Madonna and Gen Z cool girls all love this viral brand – which is inspired by everything from Bulgarian folklore to rock climbing and Scottish kilts.

Laura Lowena-Irons and Emma Chopova at Joyce Harbour City in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
China’s private sector

Chinese coffee brands need more than low prices to compete globally: analysts

Luckin, Lucky Cup, Cotti and Nowwa are expanding quickly overseas, but analysts warn success depends on consumer experience and quality.

A Luckin Coffee outlet in Manhattan, New York. Photo: Getty Images/AFP
The Philippines

How soaring fuel prices are pushing Filipino farmers to the brink

Farmer Elmer Ullani spent seven hours transporting his produce to a trading post, but says he has nothing left after paying for fuel.

China consumption

China’s sci-fi industry rides a tech wave as revenues hit record high

China’s sci-fi industry has built on the success of breakout hits like ‘The Three-Body Problem’, with revenues up over 15 per cent last year.

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Malaysia

Malaysian traders warn of 50% food price surge amid energy shock

Surge in fuel prices threatens to wipe out any narrow margins and push the cost of doing business higher, trade associations say.

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People have their breakfast at a kopitiam in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 17. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

War on Iran is about to make clothes more expensive. Here’s why

Rising freight and energy costs, plus a near-blockade on synthetic fibres, are pushing prices higher.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong restaurateurs revamp traditional dining as closures reshape industry

Shifting dining habits and cross-border competition are forcing legacy brands like Maxim’s to reinvent themselves to stay relevant.

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China property

Rising second-hand home sales offer signs China’s property slump is bottoming out

Increased resale activity, driven by first-time buyers and policy support, is fuelling hopes that China’s property market may be stabilising.

In Shanghai, about 22,000 second-hand homes changed hands between March 1 and 23, up 170 per cent from the same period a month earlier. Photo: Getty Images
Artificial intelligence

Video | Why your hard drives and SD cards just got more pricey

AI boom pushes makers to prioritise industrial-grade uses, leaving Hong Kong consumers paying more for basic storage.

People at Golden computer centre in Sham Shui Po. For price rise of RAM, SD cards and hardisk story. 26MAR26 SCMP / Jelly Tse
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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD’s four-year profit run ends, eyes global markets as next engine of growth

Earnings at China’s EV leader fall short of expectations amid intense domestic competition.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Pain at the pump fuels EV rush in China, driving a timely boost for carmakers

Brent crude above US$110 is pushing mainland buyers away from petrol cars, lifting China’s EV makers despite fading subsidies.

Mainland China

Video | Will oil shocks trigger a Chinese EV buying spree?

Oil shock from the Iran war might speed up the global EV shift and boost China’s auto industry, analysts say.

Motorists queue to pump gasoline into their vehicle at a gas station in Hanoi on March 10, 2026. Vietnam announced on March 9 it was scrapping tariffs on fuel imports, as the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupts oil supplies and pushes prices to their highest level since 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
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China’s private sector

Visa-free travel, rising foreign visitors boost luxury hotel growth in China

China’s luxury hotels thrive as visa-free policies drive international tourism, with Shanghai and Beijing seeing significant growth in high-end stays.

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Tourists pose for photos at the Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Park in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua
China consumption

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

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China consumption

China consumer firms post strong results but analysts warn recovery may lag

Hong Kong-listed consumer firms report strong results but analysts say the gains reflect structural shifts rather than broad recovery.

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