China’s retail sector continued to grow in Q2 2018, although the pace of growth slowed down to 3.7% y/y. The sector was driven by strong domestic consumption which contributed 78.5% to the country’s economic growth in the first half of 2018. High consumption was largely a result of rising incomes, with disposable income per capita increasing by 8.7% y/y to RMB 6,248 in Q2 2018. The most dynamic growth was registered in the premium goods and services segment. Online retail generated RMB 2,149bn in sales of consumer goods and services, up by 26.2% y/y, with sales of consumer goods alone going up by 27.9% y/y to RMB 1,671bn. The quarter was characterised by increased implementation of new retail and internet technologies, such as big data, cloud computing, and augmented and virtual reality (AR, VR), aimed to stimulate consumption. In May 2018, Alibaba’s Tmall and Intersport Co Ltd set up a partnership on integrating their physical and online operations through implementation of digital technologies. In Q2 2018, online retailers continued to combine their online and offline operations. Alibaba expanded its Hema branded grocery chain, while JD.Com signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Lushang Group on unbounded retail development in Shandong province. In terms of retail formats, sales of convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores increased by 7.6%, 4.5% and 1.6% y/y respectively, in the first half of 2018.

01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

02 SECTOR IN FOCUS

Quarterly Update

03 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 

04 COMPANIES IN FOCUS

05 REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

06 TRADITIONAL RETAIL 

07 E-COMMERCE