SBWire

Based on Verdict's proprietary market data and insight into key fuel retailers, this brief provides you with an up-to-date picture of the fuel retailing market in the Netherlands. As well as outlining service station numbers, fuel sales, competitor shares, and fuel and site forecasts, it details retailers' c-store, car wash, and unmanned site numbers with an overview of their product offerings.

Seven & I Holdings, the largest convenience store fast food operator in the world, was among the strongest performing consumer foodservice players in 2011. Growth was driven by aggressive outlet expansion in its domestic market, Japan, as well as internationally, including in the US, where the company was able to widen its network through a number of acquisitions of smaller convenience store chains.

The energy and nutrition bars category saw the fastest growth in 2012, with a current value increase of 20% and volume growth of 18%, leading to sales of GBP55 million. This reflects UK consumers' increased consumption of products that provide either protein or energy for a nutritional purpose. Sports nutrition manufacturers are increasingly attempting to expand into mainstream outlets, with their products becoming more visible on supermarket shelves. Many of these products are distributed by...

Consumption of chilled processed food is increasing among Ecuador's low-income consumers as an increasing number of companies engage in a higher level of segmentation of their target audiences in order to generate higher demand. Ecuador's middle-income and low-income consumers as a whole represent a very attractive consumer group as the purchasing power of this consumer group is slowly increasing due to improved economic conditions and higher levels of government support.

Ready meals is not developed in Uzbekistan, with sales remaining negligible in central areas such as Tashkent city and non-existent in other regions.

In 2012, it is the fish sauce, MSG and soy-based sauce that remain irreplaceable sauces in daily meals of Vietnamese and together, account for nearly 89% of the whole category in sales value. This number reveals the important position of those products in Vietnamese consumers' lives. However, the volume growth rate for these traditional products is not as strong as that in previous years, as these categories have reached maturity, leaving space for western-style products and better...

In 2012 the main trend in air care products was to offer attractive packaging for its various formats, so that the products can be used as decoration in different areas of the home. In order to meet demand for this type of product, air care products continued to develop better presentations of their existing formats in 2012.

Government plans such as Vive Digital look to quadruple the number of internet connections by 2014. The increase in connectivity will undoubtedly encourage the purchase of computers, peripherals and mobile phones. This plan focuses on increasing access through fibre-optic networks and has led to an increase in the installation of new cell phone towers, which has led in turn to a noticeable increase in the use and consumption of mobile phones.

In 2012 tissue and hygiene experienced positive value and volume performance. This was possible only due to a recovering economy and increased minimum salary, as well as improving performance for businesses. However, the recovery is slightly moderated by new consumer habits that developed during the crisis. On the other hand, competition continued to intensify in Lithuania, whilst brand loyalty remained low amongst most tissue and hygiene categories. Decision making mainly relies on quality and...

Despite breastfeeding campaigns by the government which aim to convince mothers to breast-feed their babies for the first six months, most working class mothers in Cameroon are driven by the need for convenience in order to maintain their jobs. As a result, many mothers responded positively to intense in-store advertising from key players. During the course of the year, the government banned any form of advertising in health agencies. However, a lack of awareness of these bans reduced their...

BMI View: The Greek pharmaceutical market will continue to be characterised by mandated price reductions, state intervention in the trade of pharmaceutical goods, regressive revenue taxes, unpaid debts and drug shortages. Moreover, the Greek government will continue to shift the burden of healthcare spending onto its citizens, requiring co-payments for expensive drugs and payments for outpatient visits.

Combination products such as chocolate and peanut butter and new flavour innovations continue to be important to sustaining growth in a relatively mature industry. Consumers in the Philippines continue to search for new and interesting flavours. Manufacturers continue to develop new product innovations in order to retain share in the market.

Drinking milk is expected to see healthy current value growth of 8% to reach Bt38 billion in 2012, up from 7% in 2011 as milk gets the warmest welcome from Thai consumers from generation to generation. Apart from fulfilling their hunger, Thai consumers typically view drinking milk as the source of protein and calcium and associate it to holistic health benefits. Heavy marketing campaigns undertaken by brand players alongside the new launches are expected to contribute to the stronger growth of...

In 2012 there was a strong trend of cocooning in Turkey. There are many TV programmes of between two and three hours which are aired in the country. These programmes, which comprise mainly of soap operas, have become very popular not only in Turkey but also in many Arab countries. Following these series has become part of Turkish culture, with consumers increasingly spending time at home watching TV. Moreover, this is a more affordable alternative to going out. This has led to increased demand...

Euromonitor International's Industrial reports provide a 360 degree view of an industry. The Industrial market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the Structural Metal Products market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.

In 2012, manufacturers of refrigeration appliances attracted consumers with a range of designs and colours, further deviating from the classic primarily white and grey colours of these products. For example, Gorenje offered Ora-Ito decorative panels for its fridge-freezers, and the Gorenje Retro collection encompassed a range of colours, such as green, red and brown. Wine coolers/chillers were also offered in a variety of designs and colours, including retro styles. Ukrainians, being fond of...

Herbal/traditional products witnessed a solid 7% value growth in 2012. The increase in sales resulted from a continuous trend of consumers switching from homemade remedies to herbal/traditional products, or using them in parallel for better and faster results.

BMI View: Our forecast for electricity generation in Thailand for 2013 remains unchanged. However, we have revised down our long-term growth forecasts for electricity generation in due to several challenges in expanding the country's thermal and hydropower generation as well as the country's plan to increase electricity imports from Laos. Yet, despite our cautious outlook for hydropower and thermal generation in Thailand, we continue to be relatively bullish towards renewables due to a larger renewable energy project pipeline and an increase in government support for renewables.

BMI's Sweden Metals report for Q213 examines the competitive advantages of the country's steel and aluminium sectors, but warns that dependence on the automotives industry as a major consumer could prove to be a weakness amid the eurozone crisis. The report examines how producers are responding to volatile market conditions and examines trends going forward. The report also analyses the growth and risk management strategies being employed by the leading players in the steel and aluminium sectors, as they seek to maximise the growth opportunities in niche markets, such as energy plants.

Core Views

BMI View: The strength of Israel's R&D capabilities has been witnessed this quarter with an FDA approval of local company Brainway's Deep TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) medical device and positive Phase II clinical trial results for Neurim Pharmaceuticals' insomnia treatment. As leading Israeli generic drugmakers face increasing competition in light of global generic uptake, we expect to see a greater focus towards innovative medicines development and expansion of the country's biotechnology sector.

The pick-up in drilling activity in the UK's offshore sector will continue on the back of high oil prices and tax reforms that support gas production and development. The clarification of budget rules related to the decommissioning of defunct infrastructure in the North Sea will sustain a trend of smaller independents or newcomers in search of safe, producing assets taking up the mature assets that existing players have decided to offload. This will slow the rate of decline, especially in UK gas production, though it will still be insufficient to prevent a rise in its import requirement owing to a policy focus on gas in the country's energy mix. The embrace of shale gas, however, presents upside potential, though it is not likely to make a significant contribution to total gas output within our 10-year forecast period to 2022.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Chikungunya - Pipeline Review, H1 2013', provides an overview of the indication's therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Chikungunya, complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Chikungunya. Chikungunya - Pipeline Review, Half Year is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Direct's proprietary databases, Company/University websites, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources, put together by Global Markets Direct's team.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Diabetic Nephropathy - Pipeline Review, H1 2013', provides an overview of the indication's therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Diabetic Nephropathy, complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Diabetic Nephropathy. Diabetic Nephropathy - Pipeline Review, Half Year is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Direct's proprietary databases, Company/University websites, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources, put together by Global Markets Direct's team.

Global Markets Direct's, 'Onychomycosis (Tinea Unguium) - Pipeline Review, H1 2013', provides an overview of the indication's therapeutic pipeline. This report provides information on the therapeutic development for Onychomycosis (Tinea Unguium), complete with latest updates, and special features on late-stage and discontinued projects. It also reviews key players involved in the therapeutic development for Onychomycosis (Tinea Unguium). Onychomycosis (Tinea Unguium) - Pipeline Review, Half Year is built using data and information sourced from Global Markets Direct's proprietary databases, Company/University websites, SEC filings, investor presentations and featured press releases from company/university sites and industry-specific third party sources, put together by Global Markets Direct's team.