globalEDGE Blog - Page 17

globalEDGE is excited to announce that the site's Coface Country Risk Assessment has officially been updated. Our Coface system depicts the risk assessment, business climate, population, and GDP per capita for a given country. Additionally, it also features the different strengths, weaknesses, and the entire risk assessment as a whole on a per country basis. This part of the site is normally updated once a year and is an amazing resource to monitor the economic status of any given country. To learn more about our sites Coface Country Risk Assessment, visit this link!

Almost every person has grocery shopping as a weekly chore. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift in the way consumers shop for their groceries. Companies like Amazon and Instacart were the only options in the past, yet the competition has been changing rapidly with new opportunities entering the market. First, it is a growing industry, with total sales doubling since the start of the pandemic. Consumers in the United States spent USD 1.7 trillion online between March 2020 and February 2022, which is USD 609 billion more than they did in 2018 and 2019. In 2022, the amount of money spent online was expected to hit USD 1 trillion for the first time, according to Adobe, who anticipates that increase to continue this year.

If you are interested in learning more about global organizations, you should visit globalEDGE’s page about them. You can read about over 60 organizations by clicking here. 

Almond, coconut, oat, soy, pea, and hemp milk… in an age particularly reliant on Starbucks morning coffee and cycling health trends, the alternative dairy industry is taking the world by storm. 

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world by land mass and the second-largest continent based on population. The largest reserves of diamonds, platinum, gold, and many other resources can be found on the continent. Africa also holds 60% of the world’s arable land and a tenth of the earth’s internal renewable fresh water supply. Although carrying an ample supply of resources, land, and population, Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world. Around 460 million Africans live below the extreme poverty line. In May 2019, the African Union signed the AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) into place, which can be the first massive step toward economic growth.

Since the early 1990s, the global economy has experienced significant growth over the last three decades. After an incredible run, the global economy may be headed for a major deceleration. The World Bank has issued a warning that the global economy’s long-term growth potential may be anemic over the next decade, mostly diminished due to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, ongoing pandemic restrictions, social unrest, and redistribution of global wealth. This situation could potentially result in a “lost decade,” resembling the stagnant and subdued economic conditions experienced in Japan in the 1990s or Latin America in the 1980s.

Crocs, the famous foam clogs, have experienced a surge in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic. What is especially interesting is that after the pandemic, they are continuing to grow. The company reported in a press release that Crocs sales have increased by over 30% in the first quarter of 2023. This continued growth highlights how the pandemic has benefited some businesses, particularly those with a solid international presence and marketing strategies.

In a world where everything is mass-produced and readily available, luxury brands are the gatekeepers of sophistication, the arbiters of style, and the purveyors of impeccable craftsmanship. From watches to handbags, these items with expensive price points and high demand make them difficult products to obtain. These goods are typically reserved for the select few, but the luxury consumer of the new generation, who has come of age in the era of the internet, displays new concerns for the industry.

The influence sustainability has on the global market is rapidly increasing. As more and more people value the environmental impacts of their purchases, demand for sustainable fashion is quickly increasing. Companies that incorporate sustainable initiatives into their products have the potential to grow significantly in the near future. As of 2022, 78% of consumers in the Netherlands incorporate sustainability into their purchasing decisions. Additionally, younger generations value sustainable products more than earlier generations, with Generation Z valuing them the highest. 75% of Generation Z value buying sustainable products over purchasing name-brand products.

The technology industry has seen a lot of ups and downs throughout the last three years, especially after the end of the pandemic. However, through the boom of technology created and engaged with during the pandemic, the tech industry is looking at a continuing rise of activity; but, is that truly what will happen?