Despite a declining population, Japan's ice cream market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, showing an increase in both volume and value in 2024, with expectations of continuing this upward trend in 2025. This growth occurs in the context of several price hikes during the review period, driven by a stable increase in domestic demand for dairy products while raw milk production has not significantly risen. The inflation effects, which became notably impactful from 2022 onwards, have been com

Value sales of ice cream are set to increase in the UK in 2025. Volume sales are also expected to increase during the year, with the ice cream market experiencing a notable resurgence that marks a turning point after several years of volume decline. This recovery follows a period of suppressed demand caused by prolonged less favourable weather during summer months and the broader impact of the cost-of-living crisis, which had reduced consumer spending on non-essential goods. Since 2024, however,

Current value sales of ice cream increased in Denmark in 2025, driven by a combination of seasonal indulgence, product innovation, and a gradual shift towards more premium offerings. Despite rising cost-of-living pressures, many Danes continued to treat ice cream as an accessible luxury, particularly during warmer months and social events. Growth was also supported by the availability of diverse formats, including take-home ice cream, impulse singles, and multi-packs, which allowed consumers to

In 2025, ice cream in the US is seeing an increase in value sales despite continued volume declines, indicating that consumers spend more per unit but purchased fewer products overall. This trend is influenced not merely by inflation but by a notable shift in consumer behaviour, as buyers become increasingly selective and opt for indulgences they consider genuinely valuable. Multi-pack dairy ice cream is proving a success, appealing through its combination of cost-effectiveness, built-in portion

In 2025, ice cream value sales in Canada are improving compared to 2024. Take-home ice cream is the largest category, with value growth set to rise. Several key factors are contributing to the current dynamics of ice cream in Canada. Firstly, from a volume perspective, there has been a noticeable rise in off-season consumption, particularly during the year-end holiday period around Christmas, complementing the traditionally strong peak season spanning late spring, summer, and early autumn.

In 2025, ice cream in China is recovering after 2024’s deep descent. Value sales have returned to positive, while falls in volume have slowed substantially. This turnaround is primarily driven by price recovery. The downturn in 2024 was the result of several factors, including unfavourable weather conditions, more cautious consumer spending and stronger competitive threats from street stalls and freshly made ice cream.

In 2025, ice cream in South Korea is seeing some growth in both retail value and volume. However, the growth rate remains relatively flat, and this stagnation can be attributed to two key factors. First, the rise of zero-calorie and low-sugar ice cream is proving a sensational development. However, these products are contributing to internal cannibalisation. Instead of attracting new consumers, the zero versions of existing products are primarily being chosen by the original brand’s existing cus

Unilever ranks sixth in overall snacks sales globally, but is the clear leader in the ice cream category, accounting for a fifth of retail value sales worldwide. However, 2024 is expected to be the last one in which Unilever’s ice cream business was included in the group’s overall earnings figures, with a demerger of this division planned by the company by the end of the 2025 financial year.

Sales of ice cream in India continue to be heavily dependent on seasonality. In 2023, India witnessed unseasonal rains and a shorter summer season, which hampered sales of ice cream across many parts of the country. However, 2024 started on a more favourable note for ice cream, as the country witnessed an increasing number of heatwaves, which is set to drive dynamic double-digit retail volume and current value growth for ice cream in India in 2024. Many parts of the country, especially the north

Climate change has imposed some weeks of record-level warm temperatures in Brazil, which potentially brought new challenges to human health. However, such hot weather tends to positively impact the consumption of ice cream as a refreshment. This context helps to explain why the category is managing to maintain growth in 2024, even amid the overall impact of inflation on unit prices, although overall retail and foodservice demand remains significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Demand for ice cream in Thailand is expected to grow continue to grow in 2024, driven by consumer indulgence and ongoing brand innovation. However, the rate of retail volume growth is projected to slow compared to the previous year, as consumers become more selective about non-essential purchases amid the high cost of living. Specifically, impulse ice cream is likely to lag behind take-home varieties in terms of growth, as bulk ice cream is perceived as offering better value for money, appealing

Ice cream in Indonesia is achieving small value and volume gains in 2024. That said, retail ice cream has recently faced competition from foodservice, with the on-trade channel seeing significant volume growth in the previous year. In the recent review period, we have seen the strong expansion of ice cream/soft cream dessert/bubble tea outlets such as Mixue, Momoyo, Ai-Cha, and BingXue across cities in Indonesia. Such stores offer prices comparable to retail impulse dairy ice cream, thus have pr

Like many other snacks categories, ice cream is set to see a retail volume decline along with notable retail current value growth in South Africa in 2024. Price rises due to inflation and rising costs are driving value growth, but leading more consumers to reassess their priorities and cut non-essential products from their basket, especially with rising interest rates and the overall rise in the cost of living. Moreover, the severe rolling blackouts experienced in the summer of 2023/2024 continu

Ice cream in Malaysia is expected to register a decline in retail volume terms in 2024, continuing the trend of the previous year. This is within the context of steep unit price surges for both bulk and multi-pack dairy ice cream, as manufacturers grapple with higher operating costs. Energy prices, for instance, are likely to soar during the year, as the local government looks to wind up its blanket fuel subsidy programme in order to reduce its mounting expenditure and to a facilitate a shift to

In spite of continuing high inflation, ice cream in Pakistan is expected to register healthy constant value and volume growth. A stabilising economy is expected to boost consumer confidence. In addition, continuing population growth also supports increased volume sales. Ice cream offers a relatively affordable indulgence, making it a popular choice for consumers.

Retail volume and current value growth rates for ice cream in Guatemala in 2024 look set to be weaker than those recorded the previous year. The slowdown is mainly explained by the ending of the El Niño phenomenon, which brought higher than usual temperatures and reduced rainfall levels in 2023, and the beginning of the La Niña cycle, which is characterised by an extended period of cooler and wetter weather. Demand has remained fairly resilient on the whole, however, as elevated temperatures res

The price of most dairy-based products has seen significant rises due to the growing cost of milk, and ice cream in Australia has been no exception. This has been one of the factors behind the retail volume declines for ice cream since 2021, as local consumers are being forced to spend less money on non-essential goods. However, unit price growth is starting to slow in 2024, which is a positive sign for the forecast period.

Ice cream is expected to be the standout snack performer in Uzbekistan in 2024, with double-digit percentage constant value growth, as well as healthy volume growth. Local consumers are actively moving from low-cost ice cream options to higher quality offerings. With consumers looking for higher quality, one of the leading local producers, Vazira Biznes, has switched from plant fats to natural fats, condensed milk, butter and cream, which had led to significant price increases, though consumers

Ice cream sales volume in Uruguay encountered a contraction in 2023, and a similar trend is expected to persist in 2024. This decline can be attributed solely to adverse weather conditions. Compared to previous years, the weather since mid-2023 has been uncharacteristically cool and rainy, with temperatures dipping below usual levels. Consequently, consumer appetite for ice cream has waned, translating into a negative impact on sales.

Retail volume sales of ice cream in Lithuania will see continued growth in 2024. Consumers generally consider ice cream to be a seasonal product, with demand peaking during the hot summer months. However, players are doing their best to invest in consumer education to reduce the seasonality of consumption. This is especially evident in the take-home segment, where consumer demand is more stable throughout the year, being less influenced by weather patterns. Premium ice cream products with all-na

Ice cream is seeing healthy sales in Kazakhstan in 2024, in both on-trade and off-trade volume terms, and with value better supported by high unit prices. Indeed, ice cream benefits from consumers’ return to out-of-home lifestyles following the era of the pandemic, with supply chain challenges also now resolving.

Ice cream is the most dynamic category in snacks in Slovenia in volume and value terms in 2024. The main driver behind this is the shift in consumer purchasing behaviour with ice cream no longer perceived as a seasonal snack anymore but instead has become popular throughout the whole year. This move away from a strong reliance on seasonal demand has benefited both impulse and take-home ice cream with players focused on developing products that are appropriate for different seasons, such as light

Ice cream is big business in Algeria and it continues to be the biggest snack by far in terms of value sales in 2024. That being said, growth in constant value and volume sales is expected to be modest, as rising prices continues to dampen value sales. Single portion ice cream continues to be much more popular than take-home ice cream and is expected to register higher current value and volume growth than take-home in 2024.

Ice cream in the Philippines is expected to continue to post healthy retail volume growth in 2024, supported by extremely hot temperatures in summer. However, the expansion of retail volume sales of ice cream in 2024 is also supported by increased product variety and players’ improved distribution strategies. The dominant player in ice cream in retail value terms, Unilever RFM Ice Cream, launched additions to its Selecta bulk dairy ice cream line with Avocado Dream, New York Cheesecake, and Crun