China’s Dependency On Potash Imports Could Give Tiny Laos Rare Leverage
June 16th, 2024
Via Eurasia Review, commentary that China’s dependency on potash imports could give Laos rare leverage: Let’s start with the good news – potentially great news, in fact – for Southeast Asia: Laos could be sitting on 10 billion tons of potash, one of the three main fertilizers used in global agriculture. In 2022, a subsidiary […]
Read more »Latin America: World’s Trade Pipsqueak
June 16th, 2024
Via The Economist, a look at why Latin America’s international trade trails most emerging markets: Follow a lorry laden with Brazilian-made cars as it inches down the hairpin bends of the Paso Internacional Los Libertadores (pictured) into Chile and the challenges of trade within Latin America become clear. Four times the lorry grinds to a halt as […]
Read more »China Eyes Sea of Japan Access via Russia-North Korea Border River
June 14th, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, a report on a proposal that China could access the Sea of Japan via a Russia-North Korea border river: China, Russia and North Korea are expected to start discussions soon about allowing ships to navigate a border river into the Sea of Japan, which could have major security implications for Tokyo. The […]
Read more »Wait, What? France Controls Currencies of 14 African Nations?
June 14th, 2024
Via Africa In Brief, a graphical look at continued French influence on African economies: Fiscal Legacy of France – Pegged to the euro, the CFA Franc, created by France in 1945 to stabilize its African colonies’ economies, remains in use in 14 countries in West and Central Africa. Despite its benefits of economic stability, low inflation […]
Read more »Resource Nationalism, Geopolitics, and Processing Strategic Minerals in Indonesia, South Africa, and Malaysia
June 14th, 2024
Via Clingendael, a new report on resource nationalism, geopolitics, and processing strategic minerals in Indonesia, South Africa, and Malaysia: Strategic minerals are essential to the modern-day technologies that enable the digital transition, decarbonisation, and the development of advanced military systems. However, their extraction and processing is concentrated in a handful of countries, creating concerns about […]
Read more »DP World Plans $3B African Ports Investment by 2029
June 14th, 2024
Via Bloomberg, an article on DP World’s African investment plans: Critical minerals helping to drive need for greater capacity Dubai company interested in South Africa, Kenya opportunities DP World plans to spend $3 billion over the next three to five years on new port and logistics infrastructure in Africa to meet long-term growth that includes surging […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.