This Research Says AQUA is the Most Popular Mineral Water

JAKARTA - People's choice of bottled drinking water (AMDK) is not only influenced by price, but also quality, trust, and habits towards brands. This is reflected in the results of the AMDK market research in 10 major cities in Indonesia which shows that AQUA mineral water is still the brand that is most often mentioned as the best-selling mineral water product by traders and outlets.

The research was conducted by the Diskursus Network & Ecosystem institution, which involved 1,033 respondents/outlets in Bali, Balikpapan, Bandung, Jakarta, Makassar, Malang, Medan, Semarang, Solo, and Surabaya in June 2026. Of the total respondents, as many as 589 outlets or about 57 percent named AQUA as the best-selling mineral water brand in their place.

"This finding confirms four main points in the AMDK competition map in Indonesia: AQUA is the most popular nationally, excels as the most popular in many cities, is the most sought-after brand nationally, and remains strong as the main choice in various cities," the research explained, quoted Wednesday, July 1.

Nationally, AQUA occupies the top position as the best-selling AMDK brand with 57 percent of respondents naming it the most sold product at their outlets. This figure shows a significant dominance compared to other brands in the market.

This condition reflects the strength of distribution, consumer confidence, and purchasing habits that have been formed for decades. AQUA is not only widely present in various sales channels, but also the main choice in people's daily consumption.

AQUA's dominance is also seen to be strong at the city level. In Bali, almost all respondents or 98 percent named AQUA as the best-selling brand. In Solo, the figure reached 80 percent, followed by Malang 75 percent, Medan 74 percent, Surabaya 66 percent, Makassar 42 percent, and Balikpapan 41 percent.

This advantage shows that AQUA mineral water is not only strong nationally, but also consistently the main choice in various regions. The main support for this position is the brand's proximity, even distribution, and product availability.

A respondent to a grocery store in Bali said AQUA was popular "because Aqua was first known", while a respondent in Medan said the product "has been known for a long time compared to other products".

In addition to being the best seller, AQUA is also the most sought-after brand nationally. This is reflected in the main reason for consumers in choosing AMDK products, where 42.5 percent of respondents said that the taste or quality of water was the main factor.

AQUA is considered superior in terms of quality, which is the main consideration of consumers compared to price (24.8 percent) and other factors such as promotions and packaging variations.

In various cities, respondents cited "taste/quality of water" as the main reason for the purchase of products such as AQUA. In fact, a respondent in Solo wrote that the product was chosen because "the water source is reliable, hygienic, and protected".

This shows that consumer interest in AQUA is not only driven by habit, but also by a strong perception of quality.

At the city level, interest in AQUA is also consistent. Many respondents cited trust and habit as the main reason consumers continue to choose AQUA.

In Surabaya, one respondent said AQUA was selling well because it was "the first brand to come out, and customers are used to Aqua". Another respondent called it a "pioneer brand that has been around for a long time".

In Solo, respondents named AQUA as "a well-known brand", "a trusted brand", and "a brand that many people know".

These answers show that in various cities, AQUA mineral water is not only selling well, but also the most sought-after brand due to factors of trust, reputation, and consumer habits.

As a pioneer of AMDK in Indonesia since the 1970s, AQUA has a long history in shaping the drinking water consumption habits of the community. For more than five decades, AQUA has been a part of the daily lives of Indonesian people.

The wide distribution to grocery stores, stalls, kiosks, minimarkets, and supermarkets also strengthens its position. In this research, grocery stores became the type of outlet that was surveyed the most with a share of 63.4 percent.

With a combination of quality, trust, and closeness to consumers, AQUA remains the best-selling and most sought-after brand, both nationally and in various cities in Indonesia.

Although AQUA is still leading, the AMDK market is becoming more competitive with the presence of various other brands. However, overall, the results of this research confirm that AQUA mineral water is still superior in four main aspects: the most popular nationwide, the most popular in many cities, the most popular nationwide, and the most popular in various cities. The results of this research are the perception and observation of traders / outlets regarding the most popular brands in their place, not an audit of sales transaction volume.