It is a positive picture for coffee. With inflation easing, this leads to growth, and also a degree of premiumisation. Over the forecast period, an awareness around sustainability and ensuring that this is communicated to consumers, will be increasingly important.

Coffee continues to be North Macedonia’s most popular hot drink and also registers the highest value and volume growth in 2025. In addition, with inflation easing, there is a degree of premiumisation within all hot drinks. Over the forecast period, there will be a bigger focus on sustainability, as North Macedonia looks to align food safety standards with the EU.

While coffee continues to be North Macedonia’s most popular hot drink, tea also registers some growth in 2025. Fruit/herbal tea continues to dominate. Over the forecast period, there will be stricter regulations and more awareness of environmental factors in terms of tea importing and labelling etc.

Chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks continue to be the only other hot drink on offer in North Macedonia. Nestle’s Nesquik is the leading brand, though Croatian brand Kraš Express is also popular and benefits from its affordability. Over the forecast period, there will be a degree of premiumisation, with some innovation in terms of healthier offerings.

Growth in sweet spreads current value sales in North Macedonia in 2025 is expected to fall below that recorded in 2024. While this is chiefly because price hikes have slowed amidst a sustained drop in inflation, it is also the only one of the four main cooking ingredients and meals categories set to contract in retail volume terms. Given that these items are generally not considered necessities, the decline in overall demand is partly attributable to enduring budget-consciousness following the s

Sauces, dips and condiments in North Macedonia has experienced a moderate slowdown in current value growth in 2025, mainly due to falling inflation. Conversely, retail volume growth is set to be slightly faster than in 2024 thanks to reduced pressure on household budgets. Consumption has been further buoyed by rising interest in cooking, while the increasing desire for convenience remains a core sales driver as busy lifestyles leave people with less time for preparing meals and snacks. Innovatio

With inflationary pressures gradually easing, growth in edible oils current value sales in North Macedonia in 2025 is set to be moderately slower than in 2024. However, greater scope for price competition and increased confidence and purchasing power among consumers mean retail volume growth is projected to be unchanged on the previous year. Stable demand also reflects the fact that these products are widely perceived as basic necessities for home cooking. Additionally, new launches, marketing a

Growth in cooking ingredients and meals current value sales in North Macedonia in 2025 is expected to be down on 2024, as pricing pressures have receded thanks to a sustained drop in inflation. The same trends have bolstered confidence and purchasing power among consumers, however, hence retail volume growth looks set to remain unchanged on the previous year despite the fact that the country’s population is declining due to low birth rates and high levels of emigration. Traditional consumption h

Current value growth for meals and soups in North Macedonia in 2025 is expected to be down slightly on 2024, mainly because pricing pressures have been alleviated somewhat by a sustained reduction in inflation. With the same factor strengthening confidence and purchasing power among consumers, the category looks set to show an improved performance in retail volume growth terms. Buoyant demand also reflects rising appreciation for the convenience of these products as increasingly busy lifestyles

Although corruption continues to blight governance and negatively impact economic freedom, North Macedonia enjoyed a highly favourable tax regime. Economic momentum is accelerating, driven by state investment in key infrastructure, but inflation is on the rise. Discretionary spending power is relatively low, whilst emigration is leading to population contraction and brain drain. Internet use exceeds the regional average and a new strategy focuses on cybersecurity, but innovation trails peers.

Dietary supplements in North Macedonia is poised to record robust growth in total current value sales in 2025. As with vitamins, overall demand remains buoyant as rising health-consciousness encourages more people to regularly take these products to improve general wellbeing, reduce the risk of illness and alleviate the symptoms or slow the progression of chronic diseases. Innovation has also helped to stimulate greater interest in most categories. For instance, the latter part of the review per

Digestive remedies in North Macedonia is set to record another solid performance in current value growth terms in 2025. Demand in all categories remains fairly stable despite population decline, as many people are becoming more prone to minor gastrointestinal complaints due to poor dietary habits, busy lifestyles, lack of exercise and age-related physiological changes. At the same time, rising health awareness means consumers are increasingly comfortable with self-medicating for such problems. T

Herbal/traditional products in North Macedonia is set to post strong growth in current value terms in 2025. Together with the self-medication trend, increasing concerns about the potentially harmful side effects and contraindications of active pharmaceutical ingredients in standard OTC consumer health products continue to bolster demand in all categories. Population ageing is hugely influential in this regard, in that older adults often have greater reason to be wary of these risks because they

Overall current value growth for consumer health in North Macedonia in 2025 is expected to fall moderately below that recorded in 2024. This is chiefly because the recent spike in inflation has now largely subsided, but the slowdown is also attributable to encroaching maturity and the fact that the country’s population is steadily shrinking due to a combination of declining birth rates and high levels of emigration. Nonetheless, the market is still performing well on the on the whole, with all c

Vitamins in North Macedonia is expected to post solid growth in total current value sales in 2025, while all categories look set to expand in volume terms. Consumption continues to be bolstered by the preventive health trend, with more people now taking these products on a regular basis in an attempt to improve general wellbeing and guard against illness. This behaviour is constantly reinforced by population ageing, as older adults tend to be more health-conscious and are at increased risk of se

Weight management and wellbeing in North Macedonia is set to show another impressive performance in current value growth terms in 2025. Demand in all categories remains robust, as the numbers of people in the country who are overweight or obese are increasing, and so too is public awareness that these conditions heighten the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and certain kinds of cancer. Rising image-consciousness is also encouraging consumers to tr

Current value growth for wound care in North Macedonia in 2025 looks set to be well down on 2024. This is chiefly because the recent spike in inflation has now largely receded, though volume growth is also expected to fall below that recorded the previous year given the negative demographic situation in the country. Sales remain resilient overall, however, as such products are generally considered basic essentials and usage levels are increasing as people become more likely to suffer various typ

Current value growth for analgesics in North Macedonia in 2025 looks set to be down slightly on 2024, mainly because pricing pressures have eased thanks to a sustained drop in inflation. However, the same factors have made households more likely to stock up on such products for future use rather than only purchasing them when they have an immediate need, hence most categories are anticipated to register improved performances in volume terms. The increasing willingness of consumers to self-medica

Paediatric consumer health in North Macedonia has continued to expand at an impressive pace in current value terms in 2025. Despite falling birth rates, overall demand remains robust thanks to rising health awareness. This trend is giving parents greater confidence when it comes to self-medication, and means they increasingly recognise that aside from being safer, products specifically formulated for children are typically more effective than giving them reduced doses of those that are primarily

Dermatologicals in North Macedonia is set to register healthy growth in current value sales in 2025, while volume growth rates for the majority of categories are expected to be up on 2024. The use of these products is steadily increasing as the self-medication trend becomes more entrenched and the prevalence of different types of skin and hair problems in the country rises due to factors like population ageing, dietary and lifestyle habits, chronic stress and frequent exposure to environmental i

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in North Macedonia is poised to register robust growth in total current value sales in 2025, while all categories are set to show similarly solid performances in volume terms. Along with the self-medication trend, weather conditions have had a positive impact on overall demand. Specifically, the peak period for the spread of seasonal respiratory viruses was prolonged by a colder than usual start to spring, with a hotter and drier than average summer s

Sports nutrition looks set to be the best performer among the main consumer health categories in North Macedonia in current value growth terms in 2025. Robust demand continues to be underpinned by rising participation in sports and fitness activities. A core element of the wider health and wellness trend, this behaviour is most visible among young adults, and has become more ingrained in the wake of the pandemic. Moreover, interest in these kinds of products is increasing beyond the traditional

This report assesses the business environment in North Macedonia, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and innovative capabilities. Companies can evaluate these factors to understand the strengths and weaknesses of a country’s business environment for better strategic investment decisions.

Growth in drinking milk products current value sales in North Macedonia in 2025 is projected to be down moderately on 2024, mainly due to slowing inflation. The same factor has bolstered confidence and purchasing power among consumers, however, hence retail volume growth looks set to be marginally faster than in the previous year despite the ongoing demographic crisis. Overall volume sales also continue to be buoyed by the staple status of shelf stable milk and frequent new launches, particularl