Among the items at the top of consumers’ lists during the past few years are video compact disc (VCD) players and air conditioners, said a spokesperson at the Yangon office of Panasonic, the Japanese electronics giant.

“We started by making multigrain moisture meters to measure the percentage of water in grains – such as paddy, beans and pulses – and later started manufacturing digital balances to measure the weight of commodities, as well as energy meters to measure electricity capacity and use,” he said.

HOME theatre systems, which can produce sharp sounds and clear images to provide a cinematic experience in the comfort of one’s home, became available in Myanmar in 1999 and have been gaining popularity since 2001.

MP3 devices have been available for more than a decade but their popularity has increased dramatically in the past few years around the world, including in Myanmar. Advances in digital technology have allowed them to be integrated into many other products, including wristwatches, mobile phones and even sunglasses.