Despite the forecast of 25 leading rapid-growth countries showing a slight dip last year due to slow global growth, recording 4.7% growth the RGMs have now started to regain momentum. The forecast expects growth in the 25 markets to collectively accelerate to 5.4% in 2013 and then 6.4% in 2014. This is in comparison to the lackluster performance of the developed markets – particularly the Eurozone, which is expected to shrink by 0.3% this year.
However, fortunes will vary between geographies, with RGMs in emerging Asia and Latin America expecting growth to pick up from 7.0% in 2013 to 7.8% in 2014 and 3.8% in 2013 and 4.8% in 2014, respectively. The economic outlook for emerging Europe will remain subdued due to continued weakness in the Eurozone while lower oil prices will continue to hold back growth in the Middle East.
RGMs have proved that they are more resilient than in the past. Despite experiencing slower growth last year, the increase in intra-RGM trade and the easing of monetary and fiscal policy has allowed them to grow once again.
Trade-oriented RGMs regain faster momentum
All of the RGMs have reduced trade barriers over the last 20 years, opening their economies to trade and the sharing of knowledge. This has continued to have a positive impact on their economies.
In the final quarter of 2012 encouraging signs started to emerge that the more trade-oriented RGMs, particularly those in Asia and Latin America, were picking up pace due to a combination of an improvement in intra-RGM trade and the impact of steps taken earlier in 2012 to ease monetary and fiscal policy.
The forecast shows that during the next 10 years bilateral trade between the emerging Asian economies will continue to increase as demand rises for more sophisticated consumer products from the expanding middle classes.
Soft landing in China has helped emerging Asia
China has soft landed as expected with clear evidence emerging that the slowdown is coming to an end. The forecast predicts that growth will accelerate to 8.3% in 2013 and 9% in 2014. The fall in activity experienced last year was mainly cyclical, due to earlier tightening of domestic policy and weakness in key export markets such as Europe.
The successful soft landing is already beginning to have a positive impact on the other RGMs. As the recovery broadens across Asia, RGMF forecasts faster growth in Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.
As China continues to move up the value chain further opportunities will become available for lower cost Asian producers. Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to increase their combined share of the world textile market from around 5% currently to more than 10% over the next 25 years.
Growth in emerging Asian economies boosts other RGMs
As well as boosting Asian markets, the economic growth in China will help to lift African and Latin American economies as the demand for commodities increases. Such benefits are likely to range from increased purchase of cocoa to assuage rising chocolate consumption, to oil and other minerals to power manufacturing and construction.
Growth in Latin America is expected to be driven by Brazil and Argentina. Mexico, which suffered less than other regional markets in 2012, will also benefit from its strong trade links with the US, where import demand is forecast to pick up in 2013.
RGMF predicts that both Ghana and Nigeria will grow by more than 6% in 2013, helped by stronger demand for commodities from emerging Asia.
However, due to their strong trading and financial links with the relatively depressed Eurozone, the emerging-European RGMs are likely to lag behind their Latin American and Asian counterparts in 2013. Only a muted acceleration in the growth rate of emerging Europe from 2.3% in 2012 to 2.9% in 2013 is forecast.
Buying opportunities
Against this backdrop, companies are increasingly using mergers and acquisitions to access, consolidate or extend their ability to benefit from growth in RGMs. But the traffic is not one way. Companies in RGMs stepped up their drive to buy resources, technology and expertise in 2012.
European companies are especially active in buying businesses in emerging markets, evidence that they are seeking opportunities beyond the stalled European economy. But outbound M&A originating in emerging markets is also major component of transactions.
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Notes to Editors
The quarterly Ernst & Young Rapid-Growth Markets Forecast is a macroeconomic forecast co-produced with Oxford Economics. It aims to fulfill the need for practical and accessible economic forecasts and insights on the development of 25 rapid-growth countries around the world. These countries have been selected on three key criteria: they should be large, both in terms of GDP and demographics; they should be dynamic, rapidly growing countries; and should be of strategic importance for business development. Our forecast is based on Oxford Economics’ Global Econometric Model and provides both analysis of the implications for corporations doing business in rapid-growth markets and recommendations for decision-makers. Follow the development by tuning in to our quarterly webcast debate and by visiting www.ey.com/rapidgrowth
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