ReleaseWire Connect

This report provides a detailed analysis of the current industry size and growth expectations during 2011-15, including highlights of the key growth stimulators. It also benchmarks the industry against key global markets and provides detailed understanding of emerging opportunities in specific areas.

The construction industries in the BRIC countries were adversely affected by the global economic crisis and underwent a period of contraction in 2009 leading to a reduction in demand for construction wood for construction purposes. As a result, the construction wood market in the BRIC countries recorded a significant decline in value in 2009. More recently, construction activity in the BRIC countries has increased with the support of projects initiated by governments in the BRIC countries in 2010 and 2011. This enabled the construction wood market to record positive annual growth rates in 2010 and 2011. Furthermore, with improving global economic conditions, construction projects that were postponed or scrapped in the BRIC countries during the economic crisis are expected to resume over the forecast period.

Handelsbanken has achieved strong growth in the UK retail banking market, and this growth rate has increased even in the wake of the global financial crisis. The decentralized structure has allowed Handelsbanken to be more flexible with its offering and to tailor its products to its customers' needs. This customer-centric approach to banking has resulted in high levels of customer satisfaction.

Consumer credit gross value increased by 10% over its 2010 level compared to growth rates of 5% and 6% in 2010 and 2009 respectively. The strong growth rate in 2011 was mainly attributed to the availability of high liquidity in the banking system. Deposits held with banks were able to hit a record in 2011 and banks sought to boost their profits, which were squeezed in 2009 and 2010 as a result of high provisions against non-performing loans as well as the slowdown of lending activity, to take...

Bottled water registered 13% growth in total volume terms to reach 3,704 million litres in 2011. The growth was the highest in the review period, as March 2011 saw the earthquake and tsunami and an unprecedented radiation leak from the Fukushima power plant. When the government announced that the radiation level in the tap water was so high in Tokyo (240km from the Fukushima plant) that infants should refrain from drinking it, the demand for bottled water spiked due to anxiety amongst...

There was strong growth in sales of clothing accessories for much of the review period, with Egyptian consumers becoming increasingly interested in global fashion trends. This growth came to an abrupt end in 2011, however, as the January revolution was followed by economic woes for many and rising unemployment. There was thus a sharp drop in impulse purchases of clothing accessories and indeed a decline in fashion-oriented purchases. Consumers had less time, money or energy to spend on updating...

Driven by portable multimedia players and other portable media players, this category had a good performance in 2010, increasing value sales by almost 20% in current value terms. Over the post-earthquake period Chileans were looking for sophisticated electronic devices which could be easy to use and portable at the same time. Helped by a large supply in retailers and ad campaigns, portable media players reached a larger penetration through middle income segments, which could afford to have...

Whilst sales of Alli continued to limit performances of other categories within the weight management market, the category overall remained affected by consumer budget restrictions due to low perspectives of purchasing power improvement in the future. In addition, several other factors continued to negatively impact the market, such as the high number of products in the market, some of them unable to fulfil their promises. To counter the unfavourable context and boost their sales, major weight...

The key trend of 2011 affecting dishwashers was a growth in dwellings. To narrow the wealth gap and help young people to buy their own houses, Executive Yuan launched Youth Preferential Mortgages/Housing Loans for those who are purchasing their houses for the first time. In 2011, as real estate was thriving, consumers became more willing to purchase dishwashers, whether built-in or freestanding.

Men's outerwear saw a moderate growth in volume terms in 2011, increasing by 2%. Growth in current value terms was higher, reaching 3%, due to the VAT rise at the beginning of the year, and inflation, which directly affected unit prices. Rising prices of men's outerwear and stagnant purchasing power forced consumers to opt for lower-end brands, and internet retailing as a distribution channel for branded clothing with attractive prices.