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Market Research in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2024 7432

Revenue

$8.3bn

2024

$8.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

68,074

Businesses

6,001

Wages

$X.Xbn

Market Research in China industry analysis

China's economic growth and expanding business market have created opportunities for market research firms. The Market Research industry has developed rapidly over the past five years. Several specialized local research enterprises have entered the market, fueled partly by increased foreign capital in the industry. Industry revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% over the five years through 2023 to total $8.3 billion. This trend includes an anticipated increase of 7.1% in the current year. Although industry profit is high at 15.4% of industry revenue, it has fallen from 17.0% in 2013 due to rising labor costs and increasing competition.China's economy is anticipated to grow and become more globalized over the next five years, driving demand for industry services. The ongoing structural reform of domestic companies will further increase demand for market research services. Industry revenue will grow at a CAGR of 6.5% over the five years through 2028 to total $11.4 billion. The degree of specialization in the industry will likely increase, with customers from the automobile, pharmaceutical, information technology, telecommunication, consumer electronic product, financial, and government sectors accounting for the most significant market shares.Although industry operators will remain highly concentrated in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou over the next several years, some midsized cities such as Chengdu, Xi'an, and Shenyang are projected to become regional centers and gain some market share. The industry will continue contending with issues such as collecting accurate data, gaining access to sales channels and finding appropriate domestic and international business partners over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

  • Demand for the industry is affected by COVID-19. The weak business confidence of downstream enterprises has reduced the demand for market research services, slowing down the growth of the industry.
  • B2C research focuses on consumer goods. B2C research accounts for the largest proportion, and most customers come from the automobile and Fast-moving consumer goods market.
  • Shanghai benefits from a developed economic environment. Shanghai has large multinational corporations and leading domestic enterprises, with a stable and high-quality population, and a high demand for market research services.
  • Investigation ability is the key to competition. Extensive survey resources can help companies collect data and ensure the effectiveness of market research results.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 5.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

COVID-19 has reduced the demand for the industry

  • Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, weak business confidence and lockdown measures across the country caused a fall in business efficiency, disruptions to standard work processes, and postponement of business deals.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Market Research in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Domestic economic growth enhances industry demand

  • As China continues to optimize the COVID-19 policies and takes favorable economic measures, China's consumption potential will be released, and the domestic economy will recover from the epidemic's impact.

Biggest companies in the Market Research in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($short_0)
2023

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Market Research in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Market Research in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Business-to-consumer research, Business-to-business research and Others. Business-to-consumer research is the largest segment of the Market Research in China.

Trends and Insights

Business-to-consumer (B2C) research accounts for the largest proportion

  • Business-to-consumer (B2C) research refers to market research services focusing on products companies sell to consumers, such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), cars, furniture, appliances, food, beverages and luxury goods.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Market research firms in China help clients acquire valuable market information, undertake comprehensive market analysis, develop appropriate entry strategies, establish distribution channels and expand their operations.

What's included in this industry?

Business-to-business researchBusiness-to-customer researchMarket research activities

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COMPUTER-ASSISTED TELEPHONE INTERVIEW SYSTEMBUSINESS TO CONSUMER (B2C)BUSINESS TO BUSINESS (B2B)FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOOD (FMCG)PEOPLE METER

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Demand for the industry is affected by COVID-19. The weak business confidence of downstream enterprises has reduced the demand for market research services, slowing down the ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

B2C research focuses on consumer goods. B2C research accounts for the largest proportion, and most customers come from the automobile and Fast-moving consumer goods market.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Shanghai benefits from a developed economic environment. Shanghai has large multinational corporations and leading domestic enterprises, with a stable and high-quality popula...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Investigation ability is the key to competition. Extensive survey resources can help companies collect data and ensure the effectiveness of market research results.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The data collection channel is the key to competition. Most top companies have many channels of contact with respondents, which can widely obtain data and meet customer requi...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Tax reduction policy has supported the industry. The government has reduced the actual income tax paid by small and micro enterprises through segmented taxation.

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Industry profits are being squeezed by competition. Intense industry competition and declining pricing levels have constrained industry profitability.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Market Research industry in China in 2024?

    The market size of the Market Research industry in China is $8.3bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Market Research in China industry in 2024?

    There are 6,001 businesses in the Market Research industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Market Research industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Market Research industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Market Research industry in China over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Market Research industry in China is expected to grow.

    What does the Market Research in China include?

    Business-to-business research and Business-to-customer research are part of the Market Research industry.

    How competitive is the Market Research industry in China?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Market Research industry in China.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • There are no industries to display.

    Complementors

    • Auditing, Accounting & Tax Services in China
    • Management Consulting in China
    • Advertising Agencies in China
    • Intellectual Property Rights Services in China

    International industries

    • Market Research in the US
    • Online Survey Software in the US
    • Business Information Resellers in the US
    • Company Research Services in the US
    • Financial Data Service Providers in the US

    View all industries in China

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in China include:

    • National Bureau of Statistics China
    • General Administration of Customs
    • People’s Bank of China

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.