Tag: trade

Several Sub-Saharan African economies are expected to post weak or even negative growth in 2026, highlighting persistent structural challenges despite stronger performance elsewhere on the continent, according to projections from the International Monetary Fund.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The world has unearthed roughly 700 million metric tons of copper in total throughout history. That’s enough to fill a cube roughly 430 metres on each side, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Dry whole milk powder is the foundation for food manufacturing, infant nutrition, and long-life dairy supply chains worldwide.

Based on a nationwide consumer survey conducted between September and October 2025, the latest Impactum Insights Brand Image findings reveal an Indonesian drinking water market shaped by two dominant players, a crowded middle, and a long tail struggling with visibility.

Security used to feel distant for many Europeans because it could only be realised through alliances, treaties, and far-off capitals. That sense of distance is fading as a majority of Europeans now support the idea of a unified armed force.

The global butter trade may not grab headlines every day, but it’s a big business that grossed US$10.3 billion in 2024, up from US$6.4 billion in 2020.

Cinnamon feels universal. It shows up in kitchens from Accra to Amsterdam, in everything from breakfast oats to festive desserts. But behind that familiar warmth is a global trade that’s far more concentrated than most people realise.

The world’s oil wealth is highly concentrated as a relatively small group of countries controls the majority of known crude resources, shaping energy markets, geopolitics and long-term economic planning far beyond their borders.

Global demand for vitamins continues to rise, driven by ageing populations, expanding healthcare systems and a growing focus on nutrition and preventative health. New trade data from World’s Top Exports shows which countries are importing the most vitamins by value, and the results highlight clear economic and industrial patterns.

Iran is facing one of its most significant waves of unrest in years, with protests spreading across dozens of cities and provinces since December 2025.

A new ranking of the top 10 supermarket chains in Southeast Asia, based on store count and country presence, highlights how retail dominance in the region is built less on megastores and more on sheer density, convenience and localisation.

Brandy is often associated with old European distilleries, but the global trade tells a very different story today. New export data shows that Mexico has quietly become the world’s largest exporter of brandy by a wide margin.

2025 looks like another year dominated by Big Tech, but available data on the best-performing S&P 500 stocks year-to-date spells a completely different reality.

The Netherlands has emerged as the world’s largest hot chocolate exporter, which accounts for 23.5% of global exports and is valued at approximately $813 million, according to the World’s Top Exports.