This report looks at the following areas: Changes in non-alcoholic drinks spending and future outlook New product innovation trends to watch Changes in consumption and trends across major non-alcoholic drink…
China
Drinks
simple
China Non-alcoholic Drink Trends: 2026
This report looks at the following areas:
Changes in non-alcoholic drinks spending and future outlook
New product innovation trends to watch
Changes in consumption and trends across major non-alcoholic drink categories
Evolution of non-alcoholic drinks consumption purposes and comparison of occasions
Ideal product attributes and considerations around sugar content in non-alcoholic drinks
Consumer attitudes towards naturalness in non-alcoholic drinks
Non-alcoholic drinks market growth is shifting from penetration expansion towards value creation driven by occasions, sensory experiences and trusted credentials.
The Chinese trillion-yuan non-alcoholic drinks market enters a phase of steady growth driven by value creation
Graph 1: forecast of consumer spending on non-alcoholic drinks*, 2021-31
Juice remains the largest category, while sports and electrolyte drinks and ready-to-drink tea lead growth
Graph 2: value sales and growth by subcategory in non-alcoholic drinks, 2025
Market factors
Spending remains cautious; while non-alcoholic drinks consumption is stable, trading down warrants attention
Graph 3: consumer confidence index* for expected improvement in financial situation over the next two months, 2020-26
Graph 4: consumer spending plans by category, 2026
A balanced approach to consumption that combines practicality and experience will affect drink choices
Graph 5: consumer types by consumption mindset (%), 2026
Membership supermarkets and private labels are active in innovation, redefining the route to purchase for drinks
Graph 6: purchase channels, 2024 vs 2026
Graph 7: new non-alcoholic drink* product launches, by brand type, 2021-26
Delivery platforms fuel growth in on-premise drinks, intensifying competition for packaged drinks
Multiple factors are deepening consumers’ understanding of hydration
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Consumer trends
Bottled water, tea and coffee form the core of high-frequency consumption
Graph 8: consumption frequency, 2026
Graph 9: consumption penetration* and proportion of frequent consumers**, 2026
Coffee and sparkling water continue to gain penetration and expand their base of frequent consumers
Graph 10: consumption penetration, 2023-26
Graph 11: consumption frequency – once a day or more, 2023-26
Tea and coffee show stronger premiumisation demand, underlining the importance of natural positioning
Graph 12: trading up and down, 2026
Coffee and juice show stronger premiumisation potential among higher-income consumers
Graph 13: trading up and down – buying more expensive products, by monthly household income, 2026
Demand re-discovery: from basic hydration to enhanced experiences
Thirst quenching remains the core need, while evolving consumer needs continue to broaden drinking occasions
Graph 14: consumption purpose, 2020 vs 2026
Competition across drinking occasions is intensifying, creating demand for more targeted solutions
Graph 15: consumption occasion, 2026
Deepening understanding of hydration: electrolyte drinks have established an edge in specialised hydration; the next step is to lower barriers to everyday consumption
Graph 16: compatible occasions, 2025
From Chinese wellness to Chinese-style hydration: broaden everyday hydration occasions
Fragmented nutrition: use drinks for everyday nutrition management, with protein presenting an untapped opportunity
Graph 17: purchase factors – selected, 2026
Create differentiation through protein water
Meal pairing: juice and sparkling drinks are the preferred choices for mealtime occasions
Graph 18: consumption occasions – mealtime, 2026
Juice and sparkling drinks: strengthen their mealtime advantage through flavour pairings and functional benefits
Ready-to-drink tea: from ingredients to dining experience management
The rise of emotional spending: self-reward choices present a new premiumisation opportunity
Graph 19: methods to regulate mood, 2025
Graph 20: consumption purpose, by generation and monthly household income, 2026
Flavour as an emotional outlet: drive emotional engagement through sensory experiences
Looking ahead: unlock opportunities in emerging mood-support ingredients
Rethinking sugar: moving from sugar reduction to sweetness balance
Sugar reduction remains important, but sugar-free is no longer the only solution
Graph 21: sugar content consideration, 2026
Provide greater clarity on sweetness sources
Graph 22: desired attributes of non-alcoholic drinks, 2026
Natural and low-sugar options are particularly appealing to higher-income consumers
"Non-alcoholic drinks market growth is shifting from penetration expansion towards value creation driven by occasions, sensory experiences and trusted credentials."
Roolee Lu, Director, China Insights
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Changes in non-alcoholic drinks spending and future outlook
New product innovation trends to watch
Changes in consumption and trends across major non-alcoholic drink categories
Evolution of non-alcoholic drinks consumption purposes and comparison of occasions
Ideal product attributes and considerations around sugar content in non-alcoholic drinks
Consumer attitudes towards naturalness in non-alcoholic drinks
Market Definitions
Non-alcoholic drinks primarily include packaged ready-to-drink products such as juice, carbonated soft drinks, tea, coffee, bottled water, sports drinks, energy drinks and plant-protein drinks. This Report explores the broader consumption and innovation trends shaping the Chinese non-alcoholic drinks market. Rather than focusing on specific product categories, the Report examines consumer behaviour and attitudes towards non-alcoholic drinks across categories. While the primary focus is on packaged drinks, the report references on-premise drinks and related consumption trends to provide additional context and examples.
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