Market Trends of Asia-Pacific Pasta and Noodles Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the APAC Pasta & Noodles Market according to our research experts:
Increase in Demand for Clean-Label Products
Increase in awareness of healthy food and the concern for the presence of a high quantity of preservatives and MSG content in noodles and pasta, consumers are preferring products made from natural and high-quality ingredients which have made an effect that manufacturers produce clean label noodles and pasta. With the increase in the occurrence of traces of pesticide residues in food particles, consumers are preferring organic products. With the rise in the incidences of allergies such as peanut allergy in Singapore, and wheat allergy in Japan, and South Korea, consumers are opting towards clean label products as these products list out all the ingredients of the products which make consumers trust the products. Also, there has been a significant rise in the number of Asians and Australians dealing with gluten allergies and diseases, like celiac disease, over the years, which also serves as a substantial factor driving the market. Furthermore, this is expected to increase the consumption of gluten-free food including pasta and noodles in the sub-continent.
Moreover, consumers' interest in noodles and pasta has evolved as vendors' product offerings have expanded to include new flavors and attractive packaging. For instance, in July 2022, Rice noodle brand Foodle Noodle launched its first clean-label instant cup noodles range in Thailand, offering local flavors with all-organic ingredients as a healthier, more convenient option to appeal to younger consumers leading a fast-paced lifestyle.
China holds prominent market share in the region
Noodles are a staple food in China and other East Asian countries. China has a wide variety of cuisines that use noodles throughout the different regions, provinces, and cities of China. The rise in china's population, increase in workforce, long working hours resulting in hectic schedules, and increased travel time in urban cities resulting in lack of time to cook are boosting the sales of pasta and noodles in the country. According to the World Bank, China has a 64% of employment rate in 2021 and is the most populated country in the world.
According to the World Instant Noodle Association, 117 billion servings of noodles were consumed globally in 2020, with China ranking first with 50 billion servings. Total consumption in China rose 20.3 percent compared with that of 2016. With about 50 billion packs sold, China's 1.4 billion people eat an average of 36 packets of instant noodles each every year. The demand for noodles is anticipated to rise due to the product's increasing popularity in rural areas as well, further noodles and pasta are the most economical food which is affordable to a wide range of consumers in China which is anticipated to propel a massive growth of the pasta and noodles market.
