Commodity Market Outlook Q3 2024: Muted Demand and Improved Supply Outlook Ease Price Pressures
Aleksandra Svidler
An improving supply outlook and muted demand have eased pressures in the commodity markets. In 2024, weaker manufacturing activity in key markets is set to limit price growth for energy and metals, while robust crop forecasts should curb agrifood price increases.
Affordable PET Bottles Turbocharge Energy Drinks in India
Amulya Pandit
Historically, energy drinks have long been regarded as a premium offering in India, with Red Bull reigning supreme. Since its debut in 2009, Red Bull has maintained its stronghold over the category. Metal beverage cans used to be the preferred packaging choice, especially for premium brands, as they continue to extend their reach through this form of packaging.
Supply Chain Diversification Supports Growth of the New Trade Hubs, but Further Action is Needed
Justinas Liuima
Growing political and economic tensions are leading to supply chain diversification efforts, with new regional trade hubs emerging in Asia, Europe and the Americas. However, it remains unclear if new manufacturing hubs can fully replace China in global supply chains due to China's dominance in the hi-tech goods sector and underdeveloped supporting industries in other countries.
The Potential of Probiotics in Naturally Functional Food in Asia
Emil Fazira
Naturally functional benefits in food have long been linked to herbal ingredients and traditional cuisine in Asia, often rooted in fermented foods. As studies have shown that fermented foods are the most common natural source of probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), this has helped to raise the reputation of these foods and consumer familiarity with probiotics and their benefits has grown across Asia.
Commodity Market Outlook Q2 2024: Pressures Have Eased but Geopolitical Flareups Drive Market Volatility
Aleksandra Svidler
First months of 2024 saw a year-on-year easing in many commodity prices, as soft global demand weighed on energy prices and prospects of adequate crop supply capped agrifood price growth. However, geopolitical shocks sparked turbulence in the oil market and drove up gold prices, while rising supply concerns fuelled a rally in copper.
B2B Channels Can Offer New Growth as Consumer Demand Remains Weak
Justinas Liuima
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is expected to impact consumer demand in 2024. To counter this, companies can focus on B2B sales channels, particularly in the offices and healthcare sectors, which are forecast to maintain steady revenue growth.
Southeast Asian Countries Are Best Positioned to Win Amid a Globalisation Reset
Justinas Liuima
Rising geopolitical tensions and economic multipolarity are adding to trade restrictions, shifting the flows of global trade and investment, and hindering economic growth. Against the backdrop of this new global reality, over the long term, companies and countries will continue to follow a globalisation reset strategy, with economic diversification and supply chain security being the key priorities.
Three Packaging Strategies to Adopt in Times of Cost Pressures
Rosemarie Downey
The consumer packaging industry is typically strong in its ability to withstand crises, given the importance of everyday groceries to global revenues; food and drink accounted for 92% of retail packaging volume sales in 2023. However, inflation, interest rates and geopolitical instability serve to amplify operating costs, for packaging converters/machinery players, brands, and retailers, apparent in the final retail price point, paid by the consumer.
Unwrapping Sustainable Packaging: Redesign for Circularity
Jorge Zuniga
During the current Global Recycling Awareness Week, celebrated on March 18th, it is worth noting that five fmcg industries contributed to four trillion retail packaging units in 2023, a figure expected to rise by 2% by 2026, according to Euromonitor’s packaging data. In this week that aims to generate awareness around the environmental significance of recycling, it is also important to understand that addressing sustainability is not only a moral requirement but also a business opportunity.