The study reveals that the largest small kitchen appliance type, in terms of volumes and revenues, in 2005 was rice cookers, with nearly 40 million units shipped worldwide, generating more than $1 billion of revenue. Kettles, drip-filter coffee makers, espresso coffee makers and blenders each generated more than $650 million worldwide in 2005. The worldwide rice cooker market is forecast to reach nearly 50 million units, worth $1,24 billion in 2010, maintaining its position as the world’s largest small kitchen appliance market, in both volume and value terms, for the next five years.

“90% of the rice cooker market currently lies in the Asia-Pacific region, and penetration rates are close to 100% in many of these countries.” commented Ann Bird, the report author at IMS Research. Hence, the rice cooker market in Asia-Pacific is mainly driven by replacement. Growth opportunities exist in America and Europe, as ethnic cooking has become more and more popular. “There seems to be lots of potential here, which is perhaps not currently being fully exploited by the major OEMs.” continued Bird.

This information is presented in IMS Research’s recently published and highly detailed report The Worldwide Market for Small Household Appliances - 2006 Edition. This report looks individually at the global market for 22 small household appliances, as well as the technology used within these appliances.