Commodities

Although Bhutan has solid rankings for peace and terrorism, a lack of trade freedom is inhibiting economic freedom. Owing to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its effect on tourism, the economy is likely to struggle in the short term, although…

Anguilla enjoys political stability and low corruption levels, with relatively high trust in the government. Its economy was severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given its substantial exposure to tourism. However, the country…

Albania is advancing with its programme to join the European Union (EU), but the large informal economy and endemic problems still hold it back. Annual real GDP growth is expected to slow down over the near term. Albania offers a large labour force,…

Corruption and political instability are impeding economic freedom, whilst the public-debt-to-GDP ratio is one of the highest globally. Although the economy is relatively well diversified, uncertainty could hamper its development and hyperinflation…

Bermuda has a stable political environment. However, state finances are stretched and could be further pressurised by a rapidly-ageing populace. The economy is expected to outperform peers in the short term, supported by solid activity in the…

In Benin, economic freedom is on the rise alongside advancements in tackling corruption, yet it is constrained by a decline in democratic principles and increasing public debt. While the economic growth is set to outpace regional peers, it is…

Belize’s future remains uncertain, given claims over its territory, whilst corruption is rife. Substantial exposure to tourism could aid the economic rebound from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but foreign investment prospects remain bright.…

Barbados enjoys political stability and is relatively free of corruption. Its break from the Commonwealth could destabilise this institution in the long term. Economic activity has been severely curtailed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given…

Limited taxation enables The Bahamas to enjoy relative economic freedom, but state finances are deteriorating. Significant exposure to tourism and adverse weather could scupper economic development in the short term, whilst unemployment is high. A…

Aruba has a stable political environment with solid governance. However, perceptions of corruption are rising on the island. As one of the most dependent territories on tourism in the world, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has ravaged the economy…

Armenia's economic freedom ranking has declined to 'moderately free,' marked by persistent corruption and ongoing high tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan. Despite these challenges, economic growth is projected to remain robust in 2023, surpassing…

Antigua and Barbuda has autonomy over its political affairs. However, the country is prone to corruption and suffers from high public debt. The country swiftly recovered from the pandemic-related economic downturn, thanks to rebounding tourism.…

Andorra is a politically stable country, but public finances have been weakened by the costs of fighting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The economy swiftly recovered from the pandemic, but the country is considerably exposed, due to…

American Samoa receives considerable aid from the US, but has a stable political landscape. The economic base is very narrow and largely involves fisheries. However, there is significant scope for tourism development. Age-related issues are expected…

Corruption and a weak rule of law are hampering strides in economic freedom in Uganda, whilst one party has maintained its grip on governance for decades. However, robust economic performance has been buoyed by strong agricultural output and…

A weak rule of law and endemic corruption hamper economic freedom in Paraguay, although the tax burden remains very low and government finances are sustainable. In the medium term, the economy will outperform the regional average and inflation has…

An authoritarian stance continues to curb civil liberties and public debt is dangerously elevated in Laos. Although falling, inflation remains very high and is negatively impacting the economy and consumption, whilst the low unemployment rate is…

Violence mars Honduran society and economic freedom, although state finances continued to improve. Economic momentum is slowing, as exports and remittances growth slow, but lower inflation will ease the pressure on households. Whilst the population…

Although corruption is being tackled, it remains pervasive in Angola, whilst one party’s grip on power weakens democracy. Economic momentum is slowing, largely owing to elevated inflation, but the foreign investment climate is improving and new trade…

The briefing examines how the pulp commodity performs globally and in the largest countries in terms of supply and production. The report also provides data and analysis on pulp price dynamics, as well as trends across key commodity-consuming…