COUNTRY PROFILE
Discover more about the Macau market including overviews about the retail, foodservice, and food-processing sectors. Events, resources, and more are linked throughout the profile.
53.8%
GDP growth in 2024
644,400
population of Macau
$877,000
U.S. exports of processed food in 2024
Macau, a special administrative region (SAR) of China, is forecast to grow at the world’s highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of all of the markets assessed for the UES in 2026. GDP growth for 2024 was 53.8% and it should moderate to 30.4% in 2025. Macau, China benefits from political stability, but its aging population could make increasing demands on government finances in the future. As the world’s largest gambling hub, Macau’s economy is heavily dependent on revenues from casinos, making its economic base narrow and prone to shocks. A wealthy and growing population is expected to support discretionary spending.
The population of Macau in 2024 was 644,400 (CIA World Factbook Est.), about the same size as Boston, Massachusetts. The median age was 42.5 years and about 15.7% or 101,000 were over the age of 65. The population growth rate was 0.67% in 2024.
USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Hong Kong hereinafter referred to as “FAS Post Hong Kong” reports that Macau is located at the entrance of the Pearl River Delta, about 90 miles southeast of Guangzhou, China and 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong. It covers an area of 12.7 square miles, around one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C. Formerly a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, Macau became an SAR of the People’s Republic of China on December 20, 1999. Pursuant to a 50-year transition period, the Macau SAR (MSAR) maintains a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign, defense, and security affairs.
Due to production limitations, virtually all of Macau’s food requirements are imported. The vast majority of Macau’s imports were transshipped via Hong Kong as Macau lacks a deep-water port.
U.S. exports of agricultural products dropped 82% in 2024 to a total of US$33.7 million. U.S. exports of processed food declined 87% to only US$877,000.
Top U.S. processed food exports shipped directly to Macau in 2024 included:
According to Euromonitor, retail sales in the packaged food market in Macau reached US$557.2 million in 2024. By the year 2029, the retail sales in the packaged food market in Macau is expected to reach US$699.3 million, a growth rate of 17.5% and US$104.3 million from 2025.
Macau refers to its food retailers as “Supermarket/Department Stores” includes sales at supermarkets, convenience stores, and food and beverage sections at department stores.
In addition to groceries, these stores are offering a more comprehensive shopping experience with increased items of fresh food, bread and pastry, organic options, and hot takeout meals. Additionally, traditional markets, such as wet markets and mom-and-pop shops are widespread throughout Macau.
FAS Post Hong Kong reported that high value U.S. exports that have potential in the Macau market include dairy, distilled spirits, seafood, bakery, wine, poultry meat, non-alcoholic beverages, soup and other food preparations, pork and products, and fresh fruit.
The presence of 18 Michelin starred restaurants in Macau bodes well for the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector. Macanese food, which is a fusion of Portuguese, African, Southeast Asian, and Chinese cooking, is gaining international recognition, as is Macau as a culinary destination following an influx of internationally renowned restaurant brands and celebrity chefs.
The Macau foodservice sector is made up of Chinese restaurants, local-style cafes, western restaurants, Japanese and Korean restaurants, other Asian restaurants, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, bars and lounges, and cooked food stalls. Many of these foodservice outlets are located in hotels and casinos. Macau has over 120 hotels and guesthouses, and 39 casinos.
FAS Post Hong Kong reported that the best product prospects in the Macau HRI sector include distilled spirits, spice, coffee, tea, dairy products, fresh fruit, poultry, food preparations, condiment and sauces, beef, fish, chocolate, tree nuts, processed fruit, and snack foods.