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Contributors to this article include Jenny Zhan, the author of that report, and Pam Foster, retired editor of VIP Magazine.

Click here for Part II of this article

NB: This article is adapted from the FUMSI report, Asia-Pacific Research Resources, part of the Regional Research Series.

As the Asia-Pacific countries take on more important roles in the world economy, demand for research on consumer markets and product trends in the region continues to grow both domestically and globally. Not only established western information companies are putting more emphasis on their business in the region: many new domestic players providing research services and market intelligence are appearing on the horizon, ranging from research report aggregators to search engines that could register the pulse

of consumer and market trends by analysing search keywords and searcher behaviour.

One can easily find many sources and small companies in China who are offering research reports on the Web, but it is still difficult to judge which providers are delivering the highest quality of reports with reliable source information and solid research methodology. Even though many of the reports published by the new small vendors are often Chinese-only, assistance in translation as well as custom research are generally

available.

Most of the large business information aggregators offer a wide selection of market and industry research reports covering Asia-Pacific countries. Specialist market research aggregators include MindBranch and MarketResearch.com, both of which offer pay-as-you-go access.

The companies listed below all publish market research reports either specifically for the Asia-Pacific region or include Asia-Pacific countries in their coverage.

Alibaba.com

Alibaba.com is the largest B2B eCommerce portal and covers 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and 41 product categories.  The countries include:

• Australia
• China
• Hong Kong
• India
• Iran
• Japan
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam.

The companies listed are mostly small to medium-sized enterprises. Besides limiting by region and category, search can also be limited to selling leads, buying leads, premium supplier or company. The search results usually contain brief descriptions of the

companies or products as well as contact details. Since Alibaba-listed companies are mostly small to medium-sized, Alibaba might be a shortcut for those looking for SMEs that are not covered by the bigger data vendors.

Asia Market Information & Development

Asia Market Information & Development (AMID) provides industry data and market intelligence on China. Its information products claim to provide insights into Chinese industry trends, producer capacities, market demand and forecasts, government regulations and competitor intelligence. Sectors covered include; Automobiles; Chemicals; Rubber & Plastics; Construction; Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals; Machinery & Equipment; High Tech; Consumer Products; Food & Beverages; and Services.

Each report comprises the following sections: 

• Macroeconomic Overview and Forecasts
• Government Economic Regulations
• Investment Environment 
• Industry Assessments 
• Market Demand and Outlook 
• Long-Term Forecasts 
• Marketing Channels 
• Industry Participant Profiles and Directory.

Tables of Content and Reports can be obtained with a free registration. 

Further information: Asia Market Information & Development. Tel: +1 425 844 8585. Email: sales@chinesemarketreport.com

Asia Pacific Food Industry

Published for more than a decade in Singapore, Asia Pacific Food Industry is an English-language trade publication for the region's food and beverage manufacturers. Each issue provides industry news and market developments from around the region and beyond, as well as technological breakthroughs in processing and packaging equipment; ingredients,

flavours and additives; quality control and instrumentation; and storage and distribution. The magazine also features in-depth profiles and interviews with food companies across the region, plus insights into technologies and materials from leading suppliers. Asia Pacific Food Industry is available in print and electronic formats. 

The Asia Pacific Food Industry website also offers a great deal of free information. As well as longish news items covering the sector, under the headings of business, packaging and processing, ingredients and additives, there are meaty Industry Supplements and

Features, as well as the latest news from exhibitions. Additional features include links to other food industry sites; a Buyer's Mart (still under construction); and an Advertiser's section.

Further information: Asia Pacific Food Industry. Tel: +65 6379 2867. 

Baidu.com

This is one of the few exceptions: Baidu.com is the Number 1 Chinese language search engine and is ranked Number 3 in the worldwide search market, following Google and Yahoo. Because of its coverage and popularity in the Asia-Pacific region, it is listed in this article as an exception to the English-language source criterion. Baidu’s Data Research Center provides market intelligence across many industries based on the search streams that come through Baidu.com. The reports present the latest industry profiles and identify consumer trends by analysing search keywords and searcher behaviour.

Currently the market segments that Baidu has published reports for include: 

• Mobile Phones
• Personal Computer
• Home Electronics
• Cosmetic
• Beverage
• Finance
• Online Games
• Autos. 

Although there is no statement about Baidu’s update schedule for research reports, there are indications that Baidu Data Research Center currently releases new reports on a quasi-monthly basis with focus on one or more hot topics. The Baidu reports offer a

sector overview, data and analysis on the competitive landscape, consumer preferences and regional strengths etc. Abbreviated versions of the reports can be downloaded for free, and the full original versions can be purchased individually. The various

ranking charts on the site provide quick snapshots of the dynamic and competitive sector developments in the domestic markets in China. 

Further information:  Tel: +86 10 8262 1188.  Email: baogao@baidu.com.

Business Monitor

Business Monitor Online's Global Industry Service provides coverage of country markets worldwide – from Asia and Africa to the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. The service covers 16 sectors: Autos; Chemicals; Commercial Banking; Defence & Security;

Freight Transport; Food & Drink; Infrastructure; Information Technology; Insurance; Mining, Oil & Gas; Petrochemicals; Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare; Power, Telecommunications; and Tourism. 

The online service offers latest industry news and analysis, strategic analysis, industry view, market review, etc. Many of the reports contain a SWOT analysis of the industry or market. Company profiles are also available, but only a limited number of companies are published and the rest need to contact BMI analysts.    

A more detailed description of Global Industry Service can be found in the Country and Industry Analysis chapter of the Asia-Pacific Research Resources Report.

CBI China

CBI China specialises in Chinese commodity markets with industry coverage in petrochemicals, oil & gas, steel, non-ferrous metals, and pulp & paper.  It provides daily and weekly information briefings by email in addition to in-depth monthly reports with

analysis of historical trends and updated forecasts.

Further information: Tel: +86 21 5155 0096. 

Further contact details including email addresses: http://english.cbichina.com/contactus.html.

China Sourcing Reports

China Sourcing Reports are published by Global Sourcing, a Chinese B2B trading facilitator with Greater China, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. The China Sourcing Reports (: http://www.chinasourcingreports.com) provide industry reviews and in-depth information for specific market segments.

A typical report includes an industry overview, detailed profiles of top Chinese manufacturers in that industry segment and profit tables of additional suppliers, product galleries with images of top-selling products, and the results of Global Sources’ latest supplier survey highlighting trends. The reports can be browsed in the following

categories:

• Auto parts & accessories
• Baby & children’s products
• Computer products
• Electronic components
• Electronics
• Fashion accessories
• Garments & textiles
• Gifts & premiums
• Hardware & DIY
• Home products
• Security products
• Telecom products.

Global Sourcing claims that the reports are mostly based on in-person factory tours and contain original data from manufacturers. Prices for the reports seem to be mostly from one hundred to a few hundred dollars. In addition to information on suppliers in

Greater China, it has now also launched the Developing Country Sourcing Report series, designed to provide buyers with information on new products from export manufacturers in Southeast Asia that specialise in specific market segments. The India Sourcing Reports focus on the supply market developments in India.  

Further information:  Tel.  +65 6547-2888.

Datamonitor

Datamonitor publishes research reports covering all regions of the world, including Asia-Pacific. Sectors covered include: Automotive; Consumer Products; Energy & Utilities; Financial Services; Food, Beverage & Tobacco; Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare; Retailing; Technology; and Transport & Logistics. Reports provide key data and detailed analysis of a market, issue or trend; Briefs offer concise overviews of niche topics; Interactive Models offer the latest industry figures plus forecasts in database format; and News provides current industry news and expert analyst opinion.

MarketLine Business Information Center, Datamonitor's subscription-based service, provides access to:

• 2,000 industry profiles
• 10,000 company profiles
• 2,000 SWOT analyses
• 150+ industry rankings
• 100,000 key decision makers
• 50+ country profiles
• News, comment and analysis.

A fair amount of free information is available on the Datamonitor website, including profiles of 10,000 companies, searchable by sector or company name. Also available are free lists of rankings, for example, the Top 5 Asia-Pacific Dairy Manufacturers, and stock

exchange lists which detail all companies included in an index. 

Further information; Datamonitor: UK: Tel: +44 207 675 7000. Email: euroinfo@datamonitor.com. US: Tel: +1 212 686 7400. Email: usinfo@datamonitor.com

Economist Intelligence Unit

The Economist Intelligence Unit publishes a number of electronic services and publications covering over 200 markets, including country analysis and forecasts,

risk assessments, economic and market data, daily news analysis, industry trends and management strategies.

For full details of all of the EIU's products, please see the Economist Intelligence Unit's entry in Chapter III, Country and Industry Analysis.

ERC Statistics International

Based in the UK, ERC Statistics International publishes a number of in-depth reports on various consumer and industrial markets around the world, including China, the Pacific Rim, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, the United States, Japan and

Europe. Sectors covered include; Food, Tobacco & Beverages; Electrical & Industrial; Household Goods; and personal products. ELC specialises in baby food and the company offers a Baby Food Alliance service via its website. 

ERC's publications division produces a number of journals: Food File; Confectionery File; and Tobacco Business. Food File covers the global food industry today in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia, the Pacific Rim and Australasia, representing over 50

major country markets. Confectionery File monitors the latest trends, market and corporate developments, key issues and an extensive range of chocolate, sugar and gum sectors that combines news with more detailed analysis and insight. Coverage encompasses North and South America, western, central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia, the Pacific Rim and Australasia.

Tobacco Business provides information on developments taking place with regard to tobacco issues on a global basis. Latest news information is supported by market and company analysis, regulatory information, changes in taxation, pricing changes as well as data on smoking prevalence and numbers of smokers. All three titles are updated monthly.

ELC's reports and publications are available via the company's website; they can also be accessed via aggregators such as MarketResearch.com and Profound.

Further information: ERC Statistics International. Tel: +44 (0)1638 667733. Email: marketing@erc-world.com

Click here for Part II of this article

Contributors to this article include Jenny Zhan, the author of that report, and Pam Foster, retired editor of VIP Magazine.

Other related FUMSI stories:

Asia Pacific Research Resources: http://web.fumsi.com/go/report/find/1077

Looking East: Chinese Research Sources: http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/find/2502

DIY Detection: Competitive Intelligence for SMEs: http://web.fumsi.com/go/article/manage/2483

Middle East and North Africa Research Resources: http://web.fumsi.com/go/report/find/970

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