RAMADAN bazaars across Malaysia continue to draw crowds seeking food for iftar, yet many traders say business this year has become more challenging as rising ingredient costs and shifting consumer habits squeeze profits.
Although visitors still flock to the bazaars, several vendors report that customers are spending more cautiously than in previous years.
Traders say the higher cost of living, combined with the growing popularity of home cooking inspired by social media recipe videos, is influencing how families prepare for the evening meal.
Reen Aminuddin, 35, who sells nasi kerabu at a local Ramadan bazaar, said the change in buying patterns has been noticeable compared with last year.
“Compared to last year, the number of people buying food has slightly decreased,” she said.
While crowds continue to visit the bazaar, she observed that overall purchasing power appears weaker.
According to Reen, the increasing popularity of cooking content online may be one of the reasons behind the shift.
Many people are now experimenting with recipes at home rather than buying prepared food.
“There are many recipe videos on social media from influencers like Khairul Aming and Che Sayang. The recipes are simple, and people enjoy watching and trying them at home,” she explained.
As a result, she believes some families prefer preparing iftar themselves. Most of her customers, she added, tend to be people with long working hours who have little time to cook, or those who simply do not enjoy cooking.
At the same time, traders are facing higher operating costs. Reen said the prices of raw ingredients have risen slightly this year, partly because Ramadan coincided with the Chinese New Year festive period.
“The cost of ingredients went up, and we’ve heard that prices may only go down after the festive season,” she said.
Because of this, she said, increasing food prices became unavoidable.
“If we don’t increase prices, we risk making losses. Sales are already slower this year, so maintaining profit has become more difficult,” she added.
Other traders have observed similar spending patterns among customers.
Siti Nur Aisyah, 42, who sells traditional Malay kuih, said customers now appear to be buying fewer items than before.
“In the past, customers would buy several types of kuih at once for their families,” she said. “But this year, many people only buy one or two items.”
She believes the rising cost of living has made shoppers more cautious.
“People still come to look around, but they think carefully before buying,” she explained.
Siti added that the cost of ingredients such as coconut milk, flour and sugar has also increased, forcing traders to reconsider their pricing.
“We try not to raise prices too much because we don’t want to lose customers, but sometimes we have no choice,” she said.
Mohd Hafiz Rahman, 28, who operates a grilled chicken stall, also reported a slight decline in the number of buyers compared with last year.
“Last year, customers were buying more food for iftar,” he said. “This year, some of them say they prefer cooking at home.”
Like other traders, he pointed to the growing influence of cooking videos online.
“Many people watch recipe videos online and try cooking the dishes themselves. It’s cheaper and they can cook larger portions,” he said.
Despite the slower start to the season, Hafiz remains optimistic that sales could improve later in the month.
“Usually in the last week of Ramadan, more people start buying food outside because they get busy preparing for Hari Raya,” he said.
However, experiences vary from place to place. In Melaka, one trader said this year’s bazaar has seen stronger crowds compared with the previous year.
Abdul Sallam, 30, who runs a stall at the Vintage Night Market Melaka Ramadan bazaar, described customer turnout as more lively.
“Customer response this year has been more lively compared to last year,” he said. “More people are coming to the bazaar, especially on weekends and after working hours.”
He added that the bazaar atmosphere feels more vibrant with the presence of new stalls offering a wider range of food and products.
Nevertheless, he said customers are still spending carefully despite the larger crowds.
“Many customers are still buying, but they are more cautious with their money. They tend to choose reasonably priced food or buy smaller quantities,” he said.
According to Abdul, traders must be more proactive in promoting their stalls to remain competitive.
“As sellers, we have to be smart with our marketing,” he said.
Like other vendors, he has also been affected by rising ingredient prices, which have increased slightly compared with last year. As a result, traders must manage costs carefully to keep their food affordable.
Although more people may be visiting the bazaar, he said this does not necessarily translate into higher profits.
“Even with more customers, profits don’t automatically increase,” he explained. “But if sales remain consistent every day, traders can still earn a good income.”
For many Ramadan bazaar traders, this year’s trading season reflects a delicate balance between maintaining competitive prices, managing rising costs and adapting to evolving consumer habits. - March 15, 2026
