Across Nigeria, low-cost Chinese goods are everywhere, evidence of Beijing's growing dominance in global trade. The trade flow has helped keep life affordable for millions of Nigerian families, at a time when the country is struggling with economic stagnation and plunging prices, as well as the deadly costs of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Home automation hardware, sold as stand-alone units rather than as part of a subscription package, will exceed 300 million in 2020, according to Juniper Research. This represents growth of over 1000 percent from an estimated installed base of 28 million units in 2015.

Tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, also known as 3TG, are essential for manufacturing in a number industries, including electronics, jewelry, industrial manufacturing, automotive and aerospace.

As customers waited for their much anticipated Apple Watches, it was reported that delays could be traced to a feared supply chain nightmare: a faulty part. Apple's supply chain strategy, though, likely mitigated the risk.

Apple sold 150 million iPhones last year, each carrying dozens of parts made by other companies. That's why Apple is a perennial kingmaker among component manufacturers: Each time the company releases a model, some suppliers end up winners and others losers.