ReleaseWire

The demand for smartphones in South Africa has increased significantly since 2010 as more products enter the market in South Africa. Higher unit price has often been the key setback in demand growth for smartphones but this is slowly changing as cheaper options enter the market. The overall result has been drop in volume sales growth for feature phones as consumers continue to shift towards the smartphones, which give them better access to the internet and provide a bigger screen size and a...

The market for jewellery items in South Africa remains highly dependent on favourable economic conditions that put the consumer in a better position in terms of spending power. During the review period, consumer spending was under strain as the cost of living continued to escalate at a much faster rate than income growth for the average consumer. Considering that jewellery items are deemed to be luxury items, consumers were seen to cut their spending on luxury items as well as non-essential...

Paints & Coatings in the United Kingdom industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value and volume 2009-13, and forecast to 2018). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the United Kingdom paints & coatings market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

In 2013 sports and energy drinks had a strong off-trade value increase of 17%, reaching sales of GTQ953.9 billion. These are the most dynamic soft drinks in Guatemala, as they are still in the initial phase in the country.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the road infrastructure construction industry in Spain. It contains detailed historic and forecast market value data for the road infrastructure construction industry, including a breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). 'Road Infrastructure Construction in Spain to 2018: Market Databook' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the road infrastructure construction industry in Spain. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Spanish construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

Meal replacement is among the most underdeveloped categories in the Serbian packaged food market. Meal replacement slimming products were the only type available during the review period, and their appeal was limited to a relatively small consumer base. Moreover, consumers who use meal replacement slimming products (mainly women) tend to do so infrequently, while many Serbs avoid them altogether due to concerns about their safety or because they believe they are not very effective. At the same...

Demand for carbonates is being affected by growing concerns over health issues related to obesity and the overconsumption of sugarised drinks and food among Chileans. Almost 14% of the population had diabetes in 2013 with a large number of sufferers unaware they have the disease, with 37% of the population overweight and 33% obese. These alarming statistics are driving health consciousness among consumers, who are slowly starting to shift to healthier drinks, or at least to products that are...

Chocolate confectionery enjoys considerable consumer interest, as Ukrainians love chocolate and local manufacturers have a strong tradition of production and meeting consumers' demands. Sales of chocolate confectionery continue to increase despite the tough economic situation, as chocolate is generally considered an affordable luxury, as well as helping to enhance one's mood. In addition, the available offer includes a vast array of different product types in all price segments, making them...

Department stores continued to see an improving performance towards the end of the review period, following the impressive performance of the leading retailers. With such a vast potential market, renowned international companies have expressed an interest in setting up stores in Indonesia. After the opening of Frenchluxury department store, Galeries Lafayette in June 2013, other regional players are also planning to enter Indonesia. The Malaysian company, Parkson Retail Asia, which has...

MarketLines' Bruker Corporation (formerly Bruker BioSciences Corporation) Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments report includes business description, detailed reports on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestments, capital raisings, venture capital investments, ownership and partnership transactions undertaken by Bruker Corporation (formerly Bruker BioSciences Corporation) since January 2007. These reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the non-life insurance industry in Lebanon. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for gross written premiums, premiums per capita, insurance penetration, gross claims, paid claims, incurred loss, loss ratio percentage and combined ratio. 'Non-Life Insurance Premiums and Claims in Lebanon to 2017: Market Brief' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the non-life insurance industry in Lebanon. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Lebanese non-life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the life insurance industry in Serbia . It contains detailed historic and forecast data for claims and expenses. "Life Insurance Claims and Expenses in Serbia to 2017: Market Databook" provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the life insurance industry in Serbia . It is an essential tool for companies active across the Serb life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

Direct selling declined in current value by 3% in 2013. Demand for direct selling in Japan has been declining consistently over the course of the last decade, with various factors influencing this decline. One of the major obstacles faced by direct selling companies in Japan is the negative image of direct selling which has resulted from widely reported incidences of dishonest business practices among rogue direct sellers. According to National Consumer Affairs Centre of Japan (NCAC), 106,572...

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the non-life insurance industry in Luxembourg . It contains detailed historic and forecast data for distribution channels. "Non-Life Insurance Distribution Channels in Luxembourg to 2017: Market Databook" provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the non-life insurance industry in Luxembourg . It is an essential tool for companies active across the Luxembourgian non-life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

In February 2013, Facebook Inc. announced that it was acquiring the messenger service Whatsapp for $19bn, accessing 450 million users ($4bn cash, $12bn Facebook shares, and $3bn restricted stocks for founders and employees). It is the biggest acquisitions by the company so far, valuing the service with 50 employees above other more established businesses such as Gap Inc.

Value sales of health and beauty specialist retailers grew by 3% in current terms in 2013 following good sales performances from all categories, including drugstores/parapharmacies with value sales growth of 3% in current terms. The category is mostly fragmented as business is driven by small independent local players, which are seeing increasing pressure from chained and international players that are able to purchase/procure goods at lower prices.

The convenience that tissue and hygiene products provide consumers and the good rate of population growth in Nigeria supported growth in the review period and in 2013. Consumers are rapidly shifting away from known traditional methods of maintaining hygiene to a more convenient and modern method offered by tissue and hygiene products. This was supported by the low prices of products, availability and a growing population of young adults and consumers who are more informed and who appreciate the...

Soup has been hit by the overall loss of purchasing power among Portuguese consumers. Considered by many families as one of the most basic of food products, soup is very easy to make at home using affordable products, especially vegetables. As a result, local consumers have been buying less packaged soup since 2011.

The Head and Neck Cancer Partnering 2009-2014 provides understanding and access to the head and neck cancer partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.

"Still & Sparkling Wine Market in Ecuador: Databook to 2017" is the result of Canadean's extensive market research covering the Still & Sparkling Wine market in Ecuador.

In 2013, the increasingly busy schedules of Philippine families, especially in light of the improving economy and increased availability of part-time jobs to add to existing careers, resulted in increased demand for ready meals. The convenience offered by these ready meals made them increasingly easy options for families with no time to cook from scratch.

Cheese in Thailand grew by 6% in current value terms in 2013 to reach sales worth Bt1.4 billion, this being a slightly better performance than that of 2012, when devastating floods affected the production of some manufacturers. A strong economic recovery in the aftermath of the floods led to improved consumer purchasing power, benefiting sales of cheese in both the retail and foodservice channels. Given that many Thais still see cheese as a source of fat and weight problems, brand players...

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the personal accident and health insurance industry in the US. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for healthcare insurance. "Healthcare Insurance in the US to 2017: Market Databook" provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the personal accident and health insurance industry in the US. It is an essential tool for companies active across the United States personal accident and health insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

Broadcasting & Cable TV in Japan industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2009-13, and forecast to 2018). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Japan broadcasting & cable tv market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

'Niger: Low Penetration Provides Opportunity for Operator Expansion,' a new Country Intelligence Report by Pyramid Research, offers a precise, incisive profile of Niger's mobile telecommunications markets based on comprehensive proprietary data and insights from our research in the Nigerien market. Published annually, this presentation-quality, executive-level report provides detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics and evolution of demand by service type and technology/platform across the mobile sectors, in addition to a review of key regulatory trends.