BMW has confirmed the much anticipated news that it plans to invest approximately $1bn in a full production plant in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí.
Among a slew of Latin American countries ready for retail expansion, Chile ranked first place in the 2014 A.T. Kearney Global Retail Development Index (GRDI).
Civil unrest in Venezuela has many shippers worried about the impact on the flow of goods into the country. Nelson R. Cabrera, director of business development with Lilly and Associates, has some advice on how to cope with the crisis.
In almost every town in Mexico, you will find at least one garish La Michoacana ice-cream parlour, a Mexican business success story, possibly as well known as Dunkin' Donuts is in the United States. But it is not a corporation, nor a brand, nor a franchise. It is a confetti of independent, family-owned ice-cream parlours.
Europe continues to fluctuate in and out of recession with ongoing economic austerity which is negatively impacting its output. Based upon its 2012 regional revenue, Armstrong & Associates estimates that 3PLs operating in Europe have penetrated 23 percent of the total potential market, so the trend to outsource logistics functions to 3PLs continues to provide for growth over and above the overall economy. The best European-based 3PLs have made acquisitions to globalize their operations and participate in developing markets with higher rates of growth.
ABI Research expects growth of 10 percent in mobile telecoms capital expenditure in Latin America, rising to $6.1bn. Upgrades and expansion of 3G WCDMA and 4G LTE coverage will result in radio access network-related spending capturing 40 percent of CapEx. Investment in small cell base stations is garnering momentum with 40 percent year-on-year growth in 2014 to $484m.