Alibaba’s Tmall Beauty Sales Surge 39% While Meituan Loss Narrows
BABA•Alibaba’s Tmall and Taobao saw combined sales of premium beauty labels above 200 yuan jump 39% in January–April, signaling renewed strength in high-end online demand. Meituan cut its March-quarter operating loss to 6.5 billion yuan but warned of slower order growth ahead, highlighting competitive pressure on Alibaba’s local services.
1. Premium Beauty Sales Jump
Alibaba’s Tmall and Taobao platforms registered a 39% increase in combined sales of the top-10 beauty labels priced above 200 yuan during January–April. This surge reflects stronger spending among affluent Chinese consumers and suggests potential margin recovery for Alibaba’s high-end e-commerce offerings.
2. Meituan Competition and Regulatory Pressure
Meituan narrowed its March-quarter operating loss to 6.5 billion yuan but cautioned that order growth could slow in the second half due to a high 2025 comparison base. A Beijing antitrust probe and a combined 3.6 billion yuan fine on food-delivery platforms, including Alibaba, underscore rising regulatory scrutiny and intensifying competition in local services.
