China’s ageing population has become a key consumer group targeted by international companies—from food and drink producers to pharmaceutical makers—as they pursue new growth drivers amid a consumption slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy, reports the South China Morning Post. Dozens of global brands unveiled their latest products and technologies at the ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE), aiming to meet the rising demand among elderly consumers for healthy food and products that support active lifestyles.
“International companies are astute at finding new opportunities,” said Yin Ran, an angel investor in Shanghai who visited the trade show on Saturday. “Products designed for the aged urban population are a bright spot because more retired workers are willing to pay a premium for high-quality consumer goods.”
By the end of 2024, China had 300 million people aged 60 and above, accounting for 22% of the total population, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).