TOPIC

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.
Delivery couriers cross paths in Beijing on September 1, 2023. Photo: Simon Song
E-commerce

Meituan executive bemoans ‘irrational’ price war with Alibaba, JD.com

Comments come as the three rivals offer increasingly hefty discounts in a heated battle for market share.

Timepieces

Swatch says profit plunge ‘exclusively attributable’ to declining sales in China

China consumption

‘Actionable results’ needed to get Chinese spending again, No 4 official says

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Smartphones

Huawei becomes China’s top smartphone seller for the first time in 4 years: IDC

Tech giant holds 18.1 per cent share of the mainland’s market in the second quarter, but shipments fall 3.4 per cent to 12.5 million units.

Pedestrians walk past a billboard featuring the Huawei Pura X Classic Edition smartphone in March, in Chongqing, China. Photo: Getty Images
Banking & finance

Labubu maker Pop Mart expects first-half profit jump of at least 350%

Beijing-based firm attributes first-half growth to the increased global recognition of the Pop Mart brand and its intellectual properties.

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Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Go with the flow: Hong Kong consumer watchdog posts portable fan performance gaps

Study of products shows disparity in airflow and battery life, as well as concerns over ‘inadequate’ safety manuals.

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Consumer protection in Hong Kong

Hong Kong man, 80, talked into 5½-year phone plan costing 6 times usual bill

Consumer Council warns that elderly residents are among vulnerable targets of those using predatory telecommunications sales tactics.

An elderly man looks at his mobile phone screen with the aid of a magnifying glass in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
E-commerce

Alibaba delivers 80 million orders in 1 day amid price war

Meituan, Taobao, Ele.me and JD.com shower consumers with freebies and promotions, leaving customers gleeful and merchants overwhelmed.

China economy

Opinion | For Chinese firms going out, global success requires truly ‘going in’

Beyond great products and service, building a trusted brand requires Chinese firms to integrate into, not just occupy, foreign markets.

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E-commerce

Meituan’s daily orders hit record 150 million amid rivalry with JD.com, Alibaba

Daily delivery volumes at the mainland’s top on-demand delivery giant reached 150 million from 120 million last week.

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Meituan food delivery workers promote meal discounts in Chongqing, China. Photo: Getty Images
China property

Opinion | Why China can’t make a clean break from reliance on land and property

There is no lack of reform ambition but there will be no clean break: the old system persists because no fully functional alternative exists.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Smartphones

Samsung bets on AI foldable phones to challenge Apple, Chinese rivals

The South Korean giant lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023, and faces growing competition from Huawei and Honor.

Starbucks

Starbucks draws interest for controlling stake in China unit

Company is sifting through proposals and shortlisting a group of potential investors for a next round of bidding, sources say.

China consumption

Explainer | How can China boost consumer spending? Here are 5 ideas being floated in Beijing

As Beijing’s efforts to boost consumption begin to lose momentum, top Chinese economists are calling for bolder action.

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China has made boosting domestic consumption a policy priority in 2025, as it tries to offset the impact of a trade war with the United States. Photo: Xinhua
Banking & finance

Can Xiaomi disrupt the home appliance market like it did with EVs?

Despite early success at home, industry watchers caution that the company faces significant challenges in competing with established players.

Xiaomi showcases its collection of small kitchen appliances. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong property

Hong Kong economy’s ‘mixed signals’ portend retail ‘turbulence’, analysts say

Shops keep closing despite retail sales growth but certain sectors show ‘leasing velocity’, while both tourist numbers and unemployment rise.

China travel

China’s visa-free policy pays dividends as overseas entries soar in 2025

China’s major cities have reported enormous increases in visitors from abroad, many entering under a popular visa exemption scheme.

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Asean

Opinion | Why Vietnam’s US trade deal is a high-risk economic gamble

It’s a strategic chance to catalyse economic reforms but failure risks making Vietnam a dependent client state.

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Vietnamese garment factory workers in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3. Photo: AFP
Asean

Eating plastic: the hidden cost of convenience in Southeast Asia

If plastic pollution continues to worsen in the region, its people could face a wide range of health issues, medical experts warn.

Japan

Wages down, prices up: Japan’s cost-of-living squeeze tightens

With prices still rising faster than salaries, the actual purchasing power of Japanese workers continues to shrink – despite a boost in pay.

China economy

Opinion | Will China’s bid to boost domestic demand pay off?

Beijing is making great strides in the transition towards a consumption-based economy. However, the path forward is not without risk.

People walk along Nanjing street, a major tourism and shopping area in Shanghai, on May 1. Photo: EPA-EFE
E-commerce

Meituan captures record orders as e-commerce war fuels demand for delivery

Daily orders surpassed 120 million on Meituan’s instant delivery service platform on Saturday; Taobao and JD.com also reported good volume.

Meituan had its busiest day when 120 million orders passed through its platform on July 5, 2025. Photo: Shutterstock
India

Prada’s new US$1,200 sandal is an Indian classic. Is it cultural appropriation?

Was it an oversight or cultural theft? The Prada controversy highlights a simmering tension between global brands and traditional artisans.

Hong Kong stock market

KFC, Pizza Hut operator Yum China adopts AI to spur efficiency, profitability

Digital ordering accounted for about 90 per cent of Yum China’s sales in 2024, backed by its 540 million ‘membership’ consumers.

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China economy

Opinion | Chinese companies must now focus on wooing consumers at home

Re-routing exports away from the US offers only brief relief; the playbook must now start at home, with China’s vast market.

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People shopping in Beijing on May 7. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promised the new taxes would only affect the rich, but many ordinary families are starting to feel the pinch.

Illustration: Huy Truong
Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels’ iconic new floral collection unveiled at Dumfries House

Van Cleef & Arpels CEO Catherine Rénier on the inspirations behind the collection, which combines the ageless appeal of precious stones with floral motifs.

Asean

Opinion | How Asian businesses can compete with China’s apex predators

China’s growing supply chains offer short-term opportunities but Asia must quickly learn from how it tests and strategically nurtures firms.

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