2026
8
China Non-alcoholic Drink Trends: 2026
2026-09-10T06:01:37+00:00
REP08171F07_E65F_43D3_971F_07E65FD3D3AD
3695
196138
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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.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • Key issues covered in this Report
    • Definitions
    • What you need to know
    • Market size and forecast
    • Market factors
    • Consumer trends
  2. THE MARKET

    • Market size and forecast
    • 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
  3. 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
    • Graph 23: sugar content consideration – selected categories, 2026
    • Graph 24: desired attributes of non-alcoholic drinks – sources of sweetness, by monthly household income, 2026
    • Use natural sugar substitutes to reinvent traditionally artificial categories
    • Juice provides a natural source of sweetness, with significant scope for premiumisation
    • Graph 25: sugar content consideration – juice, by monthly household income, 2026
    • Expand the role of juice as a natural source of sweetness
    • The continuing pursuit of sensory balance: non-sweet flavours gain traction
    • Graph 26: flavours of interest, 2022 vs 2026
    • Local brands’ innovations in non-sweet flavours
    • Use multi-sensory experiences to offset the satisfaction gap created by reduced sweetness
    • Looking ahead: from sugar reduction to blood sugar management, unlocking emerging growth opportunities
    • Redefining natural: from natural ingredients to natural trust
    • Perceptions of naturalness are rooted in authenticity, while traceable sourcing becomes central to rebuilding brand value
    • Graph 27: perceptions of naturalness, 2026
    • Natural nutrition: consumers favour high-vitamin and low-caffeine formulations
    • Graph 28: desired attributes of non-alcoholic drinks, 2026
    • Differentiating drinks by highlighting their natural nutritional credentials
    • Natural functionality: natural attributes create greater value when they deliver tangible benefits
    • Growing interest in Chinese wellness creates opportunities for local functional ingredients
    • Visual cues of naturalness: packaging and drink colour are also indicators of naturalness
    • Graph 29: perceptions of naturalness – selected factors, by monthly household income, 2026
    • Use natural colours to create visually appealing healthy drinks
    • Natural processing: how products are made will matter more
    • Graph 30: perceptions of naturalness – selected factors, by generation and monthly household income, 2026
    • Categories with entrenched artificial perceptions require innovation in natural processing
    • Strengthen perceptions of freshness in natural categories
  4. NEW PRODUCT TRENDS

    • Juice innovation continues to lead the market, while flavoured water launches gain momentum
    • Graph 31: non-alcoholic drink launches, by subcategory, 2021-26
    • Minus claims remain central to health positioning, while fortification and functional claims gain momentum
    • Graph 32: non-alcoholic drink launches, by claim type, 2023-26
    • Vitamin and mineral fortification claims lead growth as nutrition fortification claims continue to gain momentum
    • Graph 33: non-alcoholic drink launches, by top 15 functional and plus claims, 2023-26
    • Examples of new products featuring functional and plus claims
    • Fruit flavours continue to evolve as natural flavour exploration broadens
    • Graph 34: flavour landscape for non-alcoholic drinks* – full landscape, 2026
    • Expand flavour innovation into vegetables, plants and florals
    • Innovation in food-as-medicine ingredients continues to expand
    • Graph 35: share of new non-alcoholic drink launches with food-as-medicine ingredients, 2021-26
    • Innovation in food-as-medicine flavour combinations
  5. APPENDIX – MARKET SIZE AND FORECAST, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS

    • Market size and forecast
    • Methodology: consumer survey
    • Methodology: TURF analysis
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"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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