Tag: business

India and Vietnam are reinforcing their dominance in the global spice trade, accounting for a commanding share of exports as demand for flavouring ingredients continues to rise worldwide.

The global number of managed honey bee colonies has risen sharply over the past three decades, driven largely by growth in Asia and Africa, even as concerns over pollinator health persist in parts of Europe and North America, according to data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

When you pick up a simple cotton T-shirt, you probably don’t think about water. But behind that soft, everyday fabric is surprisingly 2,700 litres of fresh water.

The Netherlands emerged as the largest buyer of U.S. crude oil in 2025, highlighting Europe’s continued reliance on American energy supplies even as overall U.S. exports declined for the first time in four years.

The bulk of oil and gas shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, are heading overwhelmingly to Asia, underscoring the region’s dependence on Middle Eastern supplies.

India, Iran and Bangladesh rank among the countries with the lowest egg prices globally, highlighting stark differences in food affordability across regions, according to recent data from Numbeo and Global Product Prices.

Global cotton production is set to remain heavily concentrated among a handful of major producers in the 2025/26 season, with China, India and Brazil accounting for the bulk of output, according to projections from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and market data from Trading Economics.

The world’s largest confectionery companies have tightened their grip on a resilient global sweets market in 2026, with US-based Mondelēz International retaining its position as the top candy producer by revenue, according to the latest Global Top 100 ranking from Candy Industry.

The global cost of eggs has climbed sharply, with Switzerland, New Zealand and parts of Europe topping the list of the most expensive markets, as supply disruptions and rising production costs continue to reshape one of the world’s most essential food staples.

Asia’s tourism landscape has undergone a notable reshuffle over the past decade, with Malaysia emerging as the region’s most visited destination in 2025, overtaking traditional heavyweights such as China and Thailand.

The United States has emerged as the world’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), capping a decades-long shift in global energy dominance that has moved from North Africa to Asia, the Middle East and now North America.

Germany has emerged as the world’s most respected country of origin for products, reinforcing its long-standing reputation for engineering excellence and manufacturing quality, according to international perception data compiled by Dalia Research and cited by Forbes.

Latin America is quietly cementing its role as one of the world’s most important food suppliers, with a handful of countries driving production across everything from soybeans and beef to avocados and coffee. Fresh industry data and market forecasts show the region is not just keeping pace with global demand, but increasingly shaping it.

Swiss food giant Nestlé has retained its position as the world’s most valuable food company, with a market capitalisation of about $264 billion, underscoring the dominance of multinational consumer brands in a rapidly evolving global food industry.

India operates the world’s largest school meal programme, providing food support to around 118 million children, according to global data compiled from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and national education authorities.

China has emerged as the country with the largest number of Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in the world, highlighting the dramatic shift in the global fast-food landscape as international markets outpace the brand’s birthplace in the United States.

Air travel across the Middle East faced an unprecedented wave of disruptions between February 28 and March 5, with several major airports recording cancellation rates above 90%, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Africa’s copper sector continues to shape global supply chains, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia, South Africa and Namibia emerging as the continent’s most important exporters of the red metal.

As of February 2026, the list of the world’s richest women reflects major shifts tied to market performance, inheritance, and cross-industry investment.

New projections made about Africa’s economic story in 2026 are based on nominal GDP estimates that place a familiar group of countries at the top, but the deeper story lies in why these economies are leading and what it signals about Africa’s future growth path.