Total retail sales expanded steadily over the past decade, while online retail grew much faster, lifting digital penetration to 32% by 2025.
Industrial demand is concentrated in the U.S., China and the EU, while a new generation of emerging markets is expanding in global production.
China’s crude steel output has stabilised near peak levels while India expands rapidly, reflecting a gradual rebalancing of global steel demand.
Surveys show that core digital systems are widely deployed across supply chains, and automation is expected to transform them in coming years.
Saudi Arabia’s economy has roughly doubled over the past decade, yet oil exports still dominate trade.
The volatility and geographic concentration of investment flows raises questions about Africa’s ability to sustain momentum into 2026 and beyond.
