PVC compounds provide cost benefit and per pound of PVC in small diameter pressure water pipes and fittings, over other materials, such as copper, steel or high-performance cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). Other than being cost-intensive, copper, steel or PEX are also expensive to install than PVC pipes. In these systems, the cost of installation can be as much as ten times the cost of the pipe itself, so even small differences in the ease of installation can result in large differences in the total cost of using a substitute material instead of PVC. PVC pipe holds a commanding share in large diameter pressure water and sanitary sewer pipe because of its low cost, ease of installation, long and reliable service life, and its low replacement and maintenance cost. Ductile iron and concrete are the major substitutes in these applications, and their installation costs are higher, particularly for concrete since many more pipe joints are required. Replacement and repair costs are much higher for concrete than for PVC pipe. Additional costs are also imposed by the loss of water, due to main breaks and pumping costs, which may be higher for these surrogate materials. The higher installation cost for concrete pipe also contributes to the substitution cost for PVC in storm sewers. Therefore, PVC offers a much better cost-saving option for the aforementioned applications, both in terms of material and installation.

Genetically-modified (GM) and hybrid seeds denote a significant step forward in the production of agricultural crops. The adoption of new seed technologies, such as genetically modified seeds and hybrid seeds, has an acute impact on seed coating ingredients market. According to International service for the acquisition of agri-biotech applications, the United States witnessed the highest area cultivated under GM crops and hybrids globally. Over the years, the acreage of genetically modified crops in the United States recorded a positive growth of 5.8% from 70.9 million hectare in 2015 to 75 million hectares in 2017. According to International Service for The Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, the total acreage of genetically modified crops in Canada was valued at 13.1 million hectare, which was 11 million hectare in 2015. The growers are inclined to use GM and hybrid seeds for various reasons, as they have lower production costs, fewer pest problems, need lesser pesticides, and provide better yields. The higher the consumption of GM seeds, the more the scope for seed coating manufacturers, as most of the GM and hybrid seeds need to be coated for better performance.

Profession AV solutions or pro AV equipment are systems that are involved in the transmission of multiple high-quality live audio and video signals among other transmissions, uncompressed in nature, to multiple devices. The pro AV systems are broadly used in live events, broadcast facilities, commercial installations, and recording, and post-production. Sound reinforcement equipment and solutions form the backbone of any pro AV systems, installed or portable. The advent of the cloud and the software-based application has propelled the audio- visual (AV) technologies to go through a major shift. Global enterprises are looking forward to advanced AV solutions to help them in achieving seamless business communication and collaboration. On the other hand, system integrators and channel partners are also witnessing huge revenue potential in the growing global enterprise AV market.

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest markets for the packaging industry in the Middle Eastern region. The country has a huge consumer base and wide range of industrial activities (apart from the oil and gas sector), adding to the rapid growth in the demand for plastic packaging from the country, every year. The low crude oil price situation in the global market realized the need for a stronger non-oil sector. To strengthen the country’s non-oil sector, Saudi Arabia has been implementing several initiatives and regulatory reforms, such as National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), Vision 2030, etc., that may increase the industrial production in the region. This is creating considerable demand for packaging products from the region’s non-oil sector. According to the recent data from the Saudi Industrial Fund (SIDF), a significant shift in the development of the industrial sector is indicated by the massive change in the country’s sectoral composition. The SDIF suggests that share of manufacturing industries (other than oil refining) in the manufacturing GDP increased from 32% in 1974 (at constant prices), to 70% at the end of 2018.

The concept of sexual wellness is witnessing an evolving acceptance across countries including the US over the last few years. This growth has remained attributed largely to a number of factors such as increased penetration of brands, growing acceptance of sexual wellness products, integration with sexual health, and vendor investments across the market. Sexual wellness market in the US comprises primarily of products such as sex toys, condoms, exotic lingerie, and sexual lubricants, among others. The US has always remained a key market for sexual wellness products owing to the various consumer and technology trends prevailing in the nation. Also, the evolution of more female-centric brands has further pushed for the need of having quality sexual wellness products in the country.

The market for lodging, in general, is growing and shaping up very differently than the traditional form of hotels. Until recently, the alternate lodging forms were looked down upon. However, the popularity of alternate lodging options grew as owners and other stakeholders maintained high service levels. The innovative forms of lodging sprung up across all regions with the advent of e-booking. The market for sleeping pods and cabins faces stiff competition from traditional hotels, serviced apartments, and home rental companies. However, the varied functionalities of pods and cabins have ensured that the market remains attractive to a larger segment of travelers. Since the pods and cabins can also be used as napping facilities where one can relax before carrying on with his/her work, this unique service has garnered many customers. Unlike hostels, traditional hotels, and serviced apartments, these pods and cabins can be availed for less than an hour to 24 hours. This service flexibility has been a major attraction for customers. The change in attitude with respect to taking naps in the afternoon or relaxing when the employee is tired is also expected to aid the market growth, albeit at a slower pace, as there exist many alternative options for large corporations.

Cold chain logistics is a temperature-controlled supply chain that is an uninterrupted chain of distribution and storage activity in which a given temperature is maintained throughout the chain. This type of logistics is used to ensure and extend the life of the goods and products such as seafood, frozen food, agriculture produce, chemicals, photographic film, pharmaceutical drugs, and others. Monitoring, storage, and transportation are the important factors in cold chain to avoid degradation in the quality of the shipments. The UK cold chain logistics market is anticipated to witness significant growth over the years, owing to rise in need of cold chain logistics in the pharmaceutical industry. The UK cold chain logistics market is segmented based on end-use industry and region. Based on end-use industry, the market is divided into fruits & vegetables, bakery & confectionary, dairy & frozen desserts, meat, fish & sea food, drugs & pharmaceuticals, and others.

The number of suppliers operating in the UAE fruits and vegetables market is quite high, leading to ready availability of products from a few well-established suppliers in the open market. The cost associated with switching suppliers is low as most of the products fall in the same price range. The rise in the number of supermarkets and hypermarkets, along with the emergence of small grocery stores and mini-markets, indicates that the supplier concentration is moderate to high. The forward integration capabilities of suppliers are moderate, as they are still in the process of establishing their own distribution channels.

Increase in investments and construction activities in the residential and infrastructure sector is the primary driver for the growth of the Indonesian construction sector. Foreign direct investments in the country are expected to drive the growth of the Indonesian real estate sector. The country has eased the regulations by amending the law on public-private partnerships and passing a new land acquisition law, to make the infrastructure sector more investor-friendly. The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is encouraging the 100 Smart City Movement. This, in turn, is expected to propel many innovative real estate developments in the coming years. New real estate projects in the country have driven the Indonesian property sector in the past few years. The architectural layout of the capital city, Jakarta, has attracted various investors from around the world.

At present, the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, food products, or automobiles. Tourism has become one of the major sectors in international commerce and represents one of the main income sources for various emerging economies. This growth goes hand in hand with an increasing diversification and competition among destinations. According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in 2018, the international tourist arrivals grew by 6% and reached 1.4 billion. The tourism industry is growing rapidly due to various factors, such as stronger economic growth, affordable air travel, new business models, and easier access to visas. The aforementioned factors are likely to continually drive the tourism industry.