Global Scans · Economy · Weekly Summary

DRIVER: The global economy still faces serious headwinds and political uncertainty potentially balanced by the enormous promise of technological advancements in many fields. Read on to get a solid handle on the opportunities and risks you and your organization may likely face and set your sails accordingly.

• [New] Mining asteroids could provide essential resources and reduce dependency on Earth leading to sustainable space colonization. Scholarly Commons
• [New] At COP 30, Brazil will propose a global fund to reward countries for preserving rainforests - highlighting its struggle to balance environmental goals with economic pressures. DW.COM
• [New] EV battery prices are expected to drop nearly 50% by the end of 2025, driven by improvements in manufacturing efficiency and material sourcing. Power Integrations
• [New] Global supply chain risks for food and beverage companies are intensifying due to a combination of climate change, geopolitical instability, commodity price volatility, and regulatory pressures. Lockton
• [New] Increasing demand is pushing energy prices higher, and they could go even higher as utilities upgrade power grids to meet new energy demands. Bill Eggert
• [New] Brazil intends to increase its biofuel production fourfold by 2035. TV BRICS
• [New] The U.S. will need to pivot from a position of unipolar financial dominance to one of strategic engagement within a multipolar economic order. BRICS
• [New] Maintaining confidence in the dollar will necessitate addressing fiscal responsibility, managing national debt, and carefully recalibrating foreign policy tools, especially sanctions, to remain effective in a world less reliant on dollar rails. BRICS
• [New] Looking ahead, 2026 will demand AI-driven precision, from creative production and targeting to customer service automation. Marketing-Interactive
• [New] The space economy is another key growth pillar-valued at $570 billion in 2023, with expectations to triple by 2035. International Defense Security & Technology
• [New] Manufacturing advantages in the form of cost-effective labour, abundant raw materials, and improved infrastructure will fortify Asia Pacific as the global epicenter for aquaculture feed and pharmaceutical innovation and production for the next several years. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By 2030, increased cross-border swaps, CBDC trials, and commodity contracts in yuan or rupee are possible. EconoWit
• [New] BRICS + nations, major commodity consumers and raw material suppliers, could gradually reduce dollar reliance through trade policy collaboration, like rerouting G7 exports or using currency swaps. EconoWit
• [New] As global economic trends shift towards sustainability, CIS markets are adapting, with increased focus on green technologies and responsible investing driving long-term growth potential. Statista
• [New] The children of boomers and older generations are staring down a record wealth transfer - $100 trillion by 2048. Business Insider
• [New] AMR is a threat to sustainable development and the economic future of nations, with the estimated global annual cost of AMR rising to US$ 3.4 trillion by 2030, driving an additional 28 million people to poverty by 2050. Times Kuwait
• [New] Kazakhstan will continue to advance cooperation with regional and international partners under UNESCO's umbrella, from the protection of transboundary water resources and shared Silk Road heritage to the ethical use of AI and youth empowerment across Central Asia. The Astana Times
• [New] 2026 will reveal AI's true economic consequences, be it boom or bust. WebProNews
• [New] Countries such as Brazil and India see biofuels as an opportunity to combine climate action and economic development with new jobs and supply chains for biofuels. The Jakarta Post
• [New] Meeting Brazil's goal of quadrupling sustainable fuel use by 2035, which 19 countries have signed up to so far, would more than double global biofuel production. The Jakarta Post
• [New] The global space economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2040, with India's share growing steadily as it expands into commercial markets. VentureLab
• [New] Demand for traditional medicine is growing, as illustrated by the estimated increase of the wellness economy associated with traditional medicine: in 2022 it was valued at 5.6 trillion United States dollars (US$), and it is projected to reach US$ 8.5 trillion by 2027. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] ADNOC unveiled AED54 billion worth of contracts to UAE suppliers and outlined new business opportunities worth AED90 billion in its 2026-2027 procurement pipeline, reinforcing its commitment to drive local manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and sustainable economic growth. GCC BUSINESS WATCH

Last updated: 18 November 2025