Global Scans · Responsible Consumption and Production · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

• [New] The concentration of panel production capacity in Asia means that any regional disruption immediately impacts European inventory levels and lead times. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Flexibility will become the most valuable business asset in 2026, where stakeholders must align marketing strategies with evolving consumer behaviour rather than hoping for a dramatic revitalization of consumption. IWC
• [New] The Platinum Group Metals supply chain is highly concentrated geographically, creating persistent exposure to production disruptions and geopolitical risks. Persistence Market Research
• [New] PEM technologies are expected to support substantial growth in platinum demand across the hydrogen production and heavy-duty mobility sectors. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Even with prices at distressed levels across multiple product categories, American milk production is forecast to keep expanding. The Bullvine | The Dairy Information You Want To Know W
• [New] On the topic of precious metals, Southern Palladium is targeting first concentrate production from its Bengwenyama project in 2028. FlippingBook
• [New] Particular attention fell on measures to curb overcapacity, which could translate into shifts in production volumes and export patterns, thereby altering the dynamics of global supply chains that link resource extraction sites to manufacturing centers across continents. IndraStra Global
• [New] By the year, the projected potato production would be expected to be 237,225.00 thousand tonnes in Asia, 10,063.83 thousand tonnes in Central Asia, 114,196.00 thousand tonnes in Eastern Asia, 104,650.00 thousand tonnes in South Asia and 11,464.40 thousand tonnes in Western Asia. SpringerLink
• [New] The Eastern Cape plays a critical role in advancing small-scale agriculture in South Africa, with potato production offering significant potential to improve both food security and household income. AgriOrbit
• [New] We expect marketed natural gas production to average 121 billion cubic feet per day this year, up 2% from 2025, and 124 Bcf/d in 2027, an additional 3% and almost 2 Bcf/d higher than last month's outlook. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Global AI infrastructure could push data-center electricity consumption into the 300-400 terawatt-hour range annually by 2030, putting it on par with the total electricity use of some industrialized countries. Off The Grid News
• [New] Baowu Steel officials emphasized that the 1 million tonne nearly zero carbon steel production line has the potential to reduce more than 3.14 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Steel Radar
• [New] Domestic gas consumption will fall from a record 91.9 bcfd in 2025 to 91.4 bcfd in 2026 before rising to 92.1 bcfd in 2027. Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Dry gas production will rise from a record 107.7 billion cubic feet per day in 2025 to 109.5 bcfd in 2026 and 112.3 bcfd in 2027. Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Ev
• [New] Sulfur supply restrictions will have major implications for both sulfuric acid - used extensively in metals refining and microchip production - and fertiliser production (which accounts for about 60% of global sulfur demand). Chemistry World
• [New] Expanding Chinese production will necessarily involve genetic improvement. valorinternational
• [New] The dairy industry has an untapped opportunity to increase product consumption through lactose-free milk - especially as consumers continue to show preference for milk or creamers in coffee, a US-based study reveals. CNS Media
• [New] US-based researchers highlight the potential for lactose-free milk to increase dairy consumption, particularly in coffee. CNS Media
• [New] Tesla has indicated that Cybercab production could begin as soon as April, though Elon Musk has noted that early production will likely be slow before ramping over time. TESLARATI
• [New] The Energy Information Administration projected an increase of 5% to 32% in the US industrial sector's energy consumption from 2022 to 2050, underscoring the demand for services such as drilling, well completion, and production optimization. Yahoo Finance UK
• [New] Production systems will expand beyond automation alone to include human-centric, adaptable, and resilient production systems. Design News
• [New] In 2026, rather than operating at the margins of manufacturing, additive manufacturing will increasingly become part of how production lines are designed, optimized, and scaled. Design News

Last updated: 16 March 2026