【Epoch Times News Aug 18, 2026】Two major instant noodle companies – Master Kong Holdings Limited (Master Kong) and Uni-President Enterprises Corporation (Uni-President) have both seen revenue growth in the first half of this year, which became a hot topic on August 18th. Analysts believe that the renewed popularity of instant noodles is mainly due to people’s financial constraints.
In the “2026 First Half Performance Presentation Materials,” Master Kong stated that the revenue from instant noodles in the first half of 2026 amounted to 13.733 billion yuan, a 2% year-on-year increase. Similarly, Uni-President announced in the “2026 Mid-Year Performance Announcement” that the revenue from its food business, mainly consisting of instant noodles, was 5.63 billion yuan, a 4.7% year-on-year increase, accounting for 32.5% of the total revenue.
Data shows that in the first half of 2026, both companies experienced revenue growth in their instant noodle sales.
According to analysis from industry insiders quoted by “Urban Express Orange Persimmon Interaction” under the “Urban Express” on August 17th, after the subsidy decline in takeout services, the average order price has risen to 30 to 40 yuan. Instant noodles priced at 3 to 5 yuan per bowl have once again gained cost-effectiveness; moreover, with the continuous emergence of food safety issues and incidents involving expired ingredients in takeout kitchen, many consumers find comfort in the clear ingredient list and safety of instant noodles. Additionally, the increase in the number of single individuals in China has provided structural growth, with the single population surpassing 240 million, and 150 million single adults living alone. The rise of the “single-economy” and “lazy-economy” has vigorously promoted the development of the convenience food industry. Surveys show that 65.5% of consumers choose instant noodles for solo dining.
However, some netizens believe that the high demand for instant noodles is mainly due to people’s financial constraints. A netizen named “Misty Eyes” stated, “It’s just poverty, no other reason.”
Instant noodles have been favored by the Chinese population for their affordability and convenience. Data from the World Instant Noodle Association (WINA) shows that in 2013, the annual demand for instant noodles in China and Hong Kong reached 46.22 billion servings, with an average of 34 servings per person in China each year. However, after that, the sales volume of instant noodles declined, with consumption dropping from 46.22 billion servings in 2013 to 41.45 billion servings in 2019.
According to analysis from industry insiders quoted by “Urban Express Orange Persimmon Interaction,” in 2014, the fierce competition in takeout services among major platforms such as Meituan, Ele.me, and Baidu increased subsidy incentives, making instant noodles the biggest victim. Research has shown that for every 1% increase in the size of the takeout market, instant noodle consumption decreases by 0.0533%.
According to data from the World Instant Noodle Association, the demand in the Chinese market decreased by 4 billion servings from 2020 to 2023. In 2023, Uni-President’s single-item revenue from instant noodles was 9.594 billion yuan, a nearly 10% decrease. Master Kong’s instant noodle business revenue has been continuously declining from 2022 to 2024.
However, changes in the industry began in 2024. Master Kong’s 2025 financial report showed a slight year-on-year increase in instant noodle business, marking the first growth in nearly three years. Uni-President’s food business, primarily based on instant noodles, saw a 5% year-on-year revenue increase in 2025. Additionally, two other instant noodle companies, Nissin Foods and Samyang Foods, also achieved revenue growth in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, instant noodles continued to lead the way with a 5.8% year-on-year growth in the packaged food category.
Nevertheless, some analysts believe that the future of the instant noodle market may not always be as promising. Some institutions predict that the compound annual growth rate of the Chinese instant noodle market from 2026 to 2031 will only be 0.45%, with Citic Lyon predicting that Master Kong’s instant noodle revenue growth in the second half of 2026 will be only 2%.