A regional overview of merchandise imports shows that China ranks as the first, second or third largest import partner across large parts of Europe, highlighting the deep economic ties between Beijing and European economies.

Official statistics from Eurostat show that China remained the European Union’s largest import partner in 2024, accounting for about 21.3% of all extra-EU imports, well ahead of the United States and the United Kingdom.

Total EU imports from China reached roughly €517.8 billion, compared with €213.3 billion in exports to China, creating a trade deficit of more than €300 billion.

Trade rankings suggest that China is the top import partner for several countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including economies such as Poland and Ukraine.

Across much of the region, China consistently appears among the top three sources of imported goods, driven by strong demand for electronics, machinery and industrial components.

According to global trade statistics, China accounted for about 17.5% of global exports, making it the largest exporter worldwide.

On the contrary, some Western European countries show more diversified import relationships.

For example, countries such as France and Spain source significant imports from neighbouring European economies as well as the United States, meaning China ranks outside the top five in some cases.

Even so, the EU and China maintain one of the world ’s largest bilateral trading relationships.

Total EU-China trade in goods reached about €732 billion in 2024, underscoring the scale of economic interdependence between the two markets.

According to the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law index , these regions score highest on legal gender parity in family law. Countries such as Canada, France, Germany and Argentina provide equal legal standing for spouses in marriage, property rights and decision-making over children.

Reforms across Latin America over the past two decades have modernised civil codes, strengthening protections against forced marriage and expanding women’s rights in custody and divorce proceedings.

On the contrary, elements of male guardianship laws remain in place in parts of the Middle East and North Africa . Under guardianship frameworks, women may require permission from a male relative, such as a father or husband, to marry, travel or access certain services.

While countries like Saudi Arabia have introduced reforms easing travel and employment restrictions for women, advocacy groups, including Amnesty International, note that aspects of the guardianship system remain embedded in personal status laws.

In some countries, married women are still legally required to obey husbands or may face unequal divorce rights, according to research from UN Women and the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI).

The most severe category highlighted in global human rights reporting involves jurisdictions where forced marriage remains legally permitted or insufficiently criminalised.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that child marriage continues to affect millions of girls worldwide, particularly in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Although many countries have raised the legal marriage age to 18, enforcement gaps remain.

In some countries, legal codes still designate the father as the primary decision-maker in matters concerning children, even where other aspects of family law have modernised.

The OECD SIGI 2023 report highlights that legal inequalities in parental authority continue to restrict women’s autonomy in certain jurisdictions, particularly regarding guardianship, nationality transfer and inheritance.

Over the past 30 years, significant legal reforms have expanded women’s rights in marriage across many regions. According to the World Bank , 190 economies have enacted more than 2,000 legal reforms advancing gender equality since 1970.

However, legal equality on paper does not always translate into equal practice. Cultural norms, enforcement gaps and parallel religious legal systems can limit the real-world impact of reforms.

The latest figures reflect a year shaped by commodity price swings, energy market shifts and renewed investor interest in African infrastructure and industrial projects.

Top 7 wealthiest Africans in 2026

Based on data from Bloomberg and Forbes, the leading fortunes are:

1. Aliko Dangote ( Nigeria ) — $32.7B

Founder of Dangote Group, Dangote’s wealth is anchored in cement, sugar, fertiliser and oil refining. The launch and scaling of the Dangote Refinery, one of the largest in the world, has significantly strengthened his valuation, according to Bloomberg tracking.

2. Johann Rupert and family ( South Africa ) — $18.9B

Chairman of luxury goods giant Richemont, Rupert’s fortune is closely tied to global demand for high-end brands such as Cartier and Montblanc, as reported by Forbes.

3. Nicky Oppenheimer (South Africa) — $14.0B

The former De Beers chairman retains substantial wealth through investments and private equity holdings following the family’s sale of its diamond stake to Anglo American.

4. Abdulsamad Rabiu (Nigeria) — $12.3B

Founder of BUA Group, Rabiu’s portfolio spans cement production, sugar refining, and real estate, sectors that have expanded across West Africa .

5. Naguib Sawiris (Egypt) — $11.2B

A telecom and investment magnate, Sawiris maintains significant holdings in global telecom ventures and construction.

6. Natie Kirsh (South Africa) — $10.5B

With major interests in wholesale and retail distribution, Kirsh’s fortune reflects long-term global trading operations.

7. Nassef Sawiris (Egypt) — $9.75B

The youngest of the Sawiris brothers, Nassef, holds stakes in construction giant Orascom Construction and sports investments, including a major shareholding in Adidas.

The Atlas, published by the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF), ranks countries based on legal status, availability of services, clinical guidelines and access to accurate information. The findings show a clear geographic divide, with Western and Northern Europe scoring significantly higher than parts of Central and Eastern Europe .

Countries such as France and Sweden rank among the highest performers, scoring above 85% in overall accessibility. France strengthened abortion protections in 2024 by becoming the first country in the world to explicitly enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution, a move widely reported by outlets including Reuters and BBC News.

Sweden has long maintained broad legal access, allowing abortion on request up to 18 weeks of pregnancy, according to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.

Countries including Germany, Spain and Ireland fall into mid-tier categories. Germany permits abortion within the first 12 weeks, following mandatory counselling, under its criminal code framework. Spain expanded abortion rights in 2023 by removing mandatory parental consent for 16- and 17-year-olds, according to reporting from The Guardian and official Spanish government releases.

Ireland legalised abortion in 2018 following a national referendum that repealed its constitutional ban. However, advocacy groups note that service availability remains uneven in rural areas.

The most restrictive environments are found in Poland and Malta, according to both the Abortion Atlas and independent human rights monitors.

Poland introduced near-total abortion restrictions in 2020 after a Constitutional Tribunal ruling removed foetal abnormality as a legal ground. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented the impact of these restrictions on women’s health.

Malta remains the only EU member state with a near-total ban on abortion, though limited exceptions were introduced in 2023 to allow procedures where a woman’s life or health is at serious risk, according to the Maltese government and Euronews coverage.

Hungary and parts of the Balkans also face criticism over regulatory barriers, including mandatory waiting periods and additional procedural requirements.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains its position at the top of Africa’s copper hierarchy. With roughly 30,000 tonnes of identified reserves, the DRC remains the continent’s largest exporter of copper, with China and the UAE among its biggest destinations.

Exports to China alone are valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars annually, underscoring the critical role Congolese copper plays in global manufacturing and clean energy supply chains.

The importance of the DRC’s copper sector is more than anecdotal. According to broader market research, the country accounted for around $19.8 billion in copper exports in recent years, more than double that of its nearest African competitor, Zambia, and serves as a linchpin for key global markets in Asia and the Middle East.

Zambia follows closely as Africa’s second most significant copper exporter, with around 20,000 tonnes of reserves. Major consumers for Zambian copper include Switzerland and China, reflecting deep integration into European and Asian metal markets.

Copper is central to Zambia’s economy, making up about 70% of total export earnings and fuelling broader economic activity at home. Mines such as Kansanshi and Lumwana have been long-standing pillars of production in the region, supporting both local industry and foreign trade.

South Africa and Namibia round out the list of Africa’s key copper exporters, with 13,000 and 11,000 tonnes of reserves, respectively. India and China are among South Africa’s principal export markets, while Belgium and Germany figure prominently in Namibia’s trade mix.

Though smaller in volume than the DRC or Zambia, both countries contribute significantly to regional supply chains and are positioning themselves for future growth through exploration and mining partnerships.

Copper is not ordinary but an essential in renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, telecommunications and industrial infrastructure, sectors that are expected to drive demand for decades. Africa’s copper reserves, particularly in the DRC and Zambia, sit along the great African Copperbelt, a mineral belt that runs from the Copperbelt Province of Zambia into the mineral-rich regions of southeastern DRC.

The African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), established by the African Union to implement the Africa Mining Vision, frames this resource wealth not just as a source of export earnings but as a foundation for industrial transformation. The Centre’s mandate encourages policies that promote value addition, responsible mining, and the strategic use of revenues to support sustainable development across the continent.

Thailand’s gross domestic product surpassed forecasts in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven primarily by strong performance in the industrial and retail sectors. The briefing notes that full-year economic growth reached 2.4%, supported by investment momentum and targeted electric vehicle incentives. Government stimulus measures and rising exports also contributed to the stronger-than-expected performance. The data reflect a broader recovery pattern, with industrial output and domestic consumption playing central roles. Export growth and state-led economic stimulus were key pillars underpinning the expansion.

Investment momentum and EV incentives shape economic recovery

Thailand’s economy ended 2025 stronger than expected, boosting confidence in the new government. Data from the NESDC showed GDP grew 2.5% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, up from 1.2% in Q3 and above market forecasts. Investment drove the late-year rebound, jumping 8.1% in the fourth quarter, the fastest pace since 2016 and up from 1.4% in Q3. Private investment rose 6.5%, led by spending on industrial machinery and office equipment as business confidence improved. The government’s EV 3.0 incentive scheme also spurred demand, with consumers rushing to buy electric vehicles before subsidies expired, lifting durable goods spending 12.2%. Overall household consumption grew 3.3%, supported by low inflation and loose monetary policy despite high household debt.

Demographic shift towards an ageing society pressures labour and welfare systems

Thailand’s population growth has slowed to 0.42% , the lowest rate since the census began, according to preliminary results from the National Statistical Office’s 2025 population and household census. The 12th population census and sixth household census recorded 70.3 million people and 26.3 million households. While the population is still rising, growth is slowing sharply, with annual births significantly down compared with previous years.

Security operations intensify along the northern and eastern borders

Smuggling syndicates along the Malaysia–Thailand border in Kelantan have shifted tactics, using sea routes and landing along the Kelantan River after tighter security at the Golok River. PGA Southeast Brigade Commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said syndicates are now bringing illegal immigrants by boat through tributaries to remote villages away from monitoring posts. Between Jan 1 and February 13, the PGA arrested 84 illegal immigrants (75 men, nine women). The largest group were Myanmar nationals (31), followed by Bangladeshis (19), Thais (17), Nepalis (10), Indians (4), Indonesians (2), and one Nigerian.

Government sets 2026 export targets

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is aiming for Bt142bn in exports in 2026 through about 700 initiatives. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij said the plan could support over 294,500 Thai businesses. Measures include online promotion via thaitrade.com, trade fairs, business matching, overseas outreach, and franchise support. A US trade mission will run from February 24–28, with firms such as Otis McAllister Inc. joining talks on boosting Thai exports. In March, the Thailand’s Best Friend Project will honour around 20 major global importers, while the Special Task Force Project will target new markets including China, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, plus Africa and Latin America.

According to recent statistics, the world ’s largest coconut producers in 2024 were Indonesia with 17.13 million tonnes, the Philippines at 14.77 million tonnes, and India close behind with 14.68 million tonnes.

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) shows that global coconut (in shell) production was estimated at roughly 62.4 million metric tonnes in 2022.

In Indonesia, for example, coconut cultivation spans across the archipelago and supports millions of smallholder farmers. The Philippines, aside from being a leading producer, also exports large volumes of coconut oil, water and related products. India’s figures similarly underscore the importance of coconuts for both rural livelihoods and domestic consumption.

The prominence of coconuts in these economies meets demand from multiple directions: rising global interest in plant-based foods, coconut-derived beverages, oils used in cosmetics, and sustainable packaging alternatives. In that sense, coconut production connects traditional agriculture with 21st-century consumer trends.

However, climate change, extreme weather events and ageing coconut plantations are pressuring the sector .

For countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, typhoons and changing sea levels remain real threats to yields. The broader agricultural system also sees coconuts competing with other crops and land uses.