2002 World Market Profile

摘要

The recession that slowed down the American economy throughout 2001―and which will continue at least into the first half of 2002―is now being felt throughout the world. Europe's GDP growth for 2001 was 1.8%. The entry of the euro and the prospect of ten new members to the 15-nation club over the next five years has certainly hit business confidence across the water. The world's emerging markets were already in trouble before the crisis prompted by the terrible events of September 11. Since then, however, capital flows to developing countries have tightened further, with Africa and Latin America particularly affected. But Asia seems to be recovering well from the collapse of the late 1990s, and China looks set throughout 2002 to strengthen its hold over the regional market. Africa's production and shipment of corrugated dropped 3.4% to 1.64-million-sq.-m for 2000, and the estimates for this year's show a similar decline. South Africa, in trouble itself, is the only country registering some growth in this sector.