Current Affairs
July 16, 2022
Fun for the Weekend
The $100 Trillion Global Economy In One Chart
by Tyler DurdenFriday, Jul 15, 2022 – 08:00 PM
Surpassing the $100 trillion mark is a new milestone for global economic output.
Visual Capitalist’s Avery Koop has covered this topic in the past when the world’s GDP was $88 trillion (2020) and then $94 trillion (2021), and now according to the latest projections, the IMF expects the global economy to reach nearly $104 trillion in nominal value by the end of 2022.
Although growth keeps trending upwards, the recovery that was expected in the post-pandemic period is looking strained. Because of recent conflicts, supply chain bottlenecks, and subsequent inflation, global economic projections are getting revised downwards.
Global annual GDP growth for 2022 was initially projected to be 4.4% as of January, but this has since been adjusted to 3.6%.

Note: This data from the IMF represents the most recent nominal projections for end of year as of April 2022.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a broad indicator of the economic activity within a country. It measures the total value of economic output—goods and services—produced within a given time frame by both the private and public sectors.
The 50 Largest Economies in the World
The United States is still the economic leader worldwide, with a GDP of $25.3 trillion—making up nearly one quarter of the global economy. China follows close behind at $19.9 trillion. Here’s a look at the top 10 countries in terms of GDP:

The frontrunner in Europe is Germany at $4.3 trillion, with the UK coming in second place. One significant change since the last reported figures is that Brazil now cracks the top 10, having surpassed South Korea. Russia falls just outside, in 11th place, with a GDP of $1.8 trillion.
While China’s GDP growth has slowed in recent years, projections still indicate that the country will overtake the U.S. by 2030, dethroning the world’s economic leader.
One region also expected to experience growth in the near future is the Middle East and North Africa, thanks to higher oil prices—Iraq and Saudi Arabia in particular are leading this charge. Regional GDP growth in the area is expected to be around 5% in 2022.
The 50 Smallest Economies in the World
Some of the world’s smallest economies were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and have subsequently been the most affected by the inflation and food supply shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at the countries worldwide with the lowest GDP in 2022:

The smallest economy in the world measured in the IMF rankings is Tuvalu at $66 million. Most of the bottom 50 are considered low- to middle-income and emerging/developing countries. According to the World Bank, in developing countries, the level of per capita income in 2022 will be about 5% below the pre-pandemic trends.
Some countries are actually projected to experience negative GDP growth this year, particularly emerging and developing economies in Europe.
For example, Russia is expected to experience a GDP growth rate of -8.5% in 2022, though it still remains to be seen how the cost of war and increasingly harsh global sanctions impact the country’s economic prospects.
Inflation, Stagflation, Recession – How Bad is it?
While global economic growth has already been revised downwards, it’s possible the situation could be even more serious. Organizations like the World Bank say that risks of stagflation are rising. Stagflation, which hasn’t occurred since the 1970s, is defined as an economy that’s experiencing rising inflation combined with a stagnant economic output.
Currently, global consumer inflation is currently pegged at 7%. Daily goods are becoming increasingly difficult to purchase and interest rates are on the rise as central banks worldwide try to control the situation. As recent events in Sri Lanka demonstrate, low-income countries are particularly at risk to economic volatility.
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/100-trillion-global-economy-one-chart
July 16, 2022
Fun for the Weekend
The $100 Trillion Global Economy In One Chart
by Tyler DurdenFriday, Jul 15, 2022 – 08:00 PM
Surpassing the $100 trillion mark is a new milestone for global economic output.
Visual Capitalist’s Avery Koop has covered this topic in the past when the world’s GDP was $88 trillion (2020) and then $94 trillion (2021), and now according to the latest projections, the IMF expects the global economy to reach nearly $104 trillion in nominal value by the end of 2022.
Although growth keeps trending upwards, the recovery that was expected in the post-pandemic period is looking strained. Because of recent conflicts, supply chain bottlenecks, and subsequent inflation, global economic projections are getting revised downwards.
Global annual GDP growth for 2022 was initially projected to be 4.4% as of January, but this has since been adjusted to 3.6%.

Note: This data from the IMF represents the most recent nominal projections for end of year as of April 2022.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a broad indicator of the economic activity within a country. It measures the total value of economic output—goods and services—produced within a given time frame by both the private and public sectors.
The 50 Largest Economies in the World
The United States is still the economic leader worldwide, with a GDP of $25.3 trillion—making up nearly one quarter of the global economy. China follows close behind at $19.9 trillion. Here’s a look at the top 10 countries in terms of GDP:

The frontrunner in Europe is Germany at $4.3 trillion, with the UK coming in second place. One significant change since the last reported figures is that Brazil now cracks the top 10, having surpassed South Korea. Russia falls just outside, in 11th place, with a GDP of $1.8 trillion.
While China’s GDP growth has slowed in recent years, projections still indicate that the country will overtake the U.S. by 2030, dethroning the world’s economic leader.
One region also expected to experience growth in the near future is the Middle East and North Africa, thanks to higher oil prices—Iraq and Saudi Arabia in particular are leading this charge. Regional GDP growth in the area is expected to be around 5% in 2022.
The 50 Smallest Economies in the World
Some of the world’s smallest economies were hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and have subsequently been the most affected by the inflation and food supply shortages resulting from the war in Ukraine.
Here’s a look at the countries worldwide with the lowest GDP in 2022:

The smallest economy in the world measured in the IMF rankings is Tuvalu at $66 million. Most of the bottom 50 are considered low- to middle-income and emerging/developing countries. According to the World Bank, in developing countries, the level of per capita income in 2022 will be about 5% below the pre-pandemic trends.
Some countries are actually projected to experience negative GDP growth this year, particularly emerging and developing economies in Europe.
For example, Russia is expected to experience a GDP growth rate of -8.5% in 2022, though it still remains to be seen how the cost of war and increasingly harsh global sanctions impact the country’s economic prospects.
Inflation, Stagflation, Recession – How Bad is it?
While global economic growth has already been revised downwards, it’s possible the situation could be even more serious. Organizations like the World Bank say that risks of stagflation are rising. Stagflation, which hasn’t occurred since the 1970s, is defined as an economy that’s experiencing rising inflation combined with a stagnant economic output.
Currently, global consumer inflation is currently pegged at 7%. Daily goods are becoming increasingly difficult to purchase and interest rates are on the rise as central banks worldwide try to control the situation. As recent events in Sri Lanka demonstrate, low-income countries are particularly at risk to economic volatility.
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/100-trillion-global-economy-one-chart
July 14, 2022
Furniture Woes
Furniture manufacturer announces changes to Mississippi facility, layoff of 300 jobs
Published 5:55 am Saturday, July 2, 2022
One of the largest furniture manufacturers in the state has announced that it is laying off 300 workers in Mississippi and North Carolina.
Furniture Today reports that United Furniture Industries Inc., which is known to consumers as Lane Home Furnishings, will be transforming a manufacturing factory in Amory to a warehousing-only facility; closing a metal stamping facility in High Point, NC.; and transitioning a Winston-Salem, N.C. operation to an East Coast distribution center.
Company CEO Todd Evans said the reason for the layoffs is because the industry is experiencing a drastic decrease in consumer demand.
In all, 300 employees will be laid off, but it is not clear how many of those jobs will be in Mississippi.
The changes will leave the company with 2,700 employees in three states and Vietnam.
July 14, 2022
Furniture Woes
Furniture manufacturer announces changes to Mississippi facility, layoff of 300 jobs
Published 5:55 am Saturday, July 2, 2022
One of the largest furniture manufacturers in the state has announced that it is laying off 300 workers in Mississippi and North Carolina.
Furniture Today reports that United Furniture Industries Inc., which is known to consumers as Lane Home Furnishings, will be transforming a manufacturing factory in Amory to a warehousing-only facility; closing a metal stamping facility in High Point, NC.; and transitioning a Winston-Salem, N.C. operation to an East Coast distribution center.
Company CEO Todd Evans said the reason for the layoffs is because the industry is experiencing a drastic decrease in consumer demand.
In all, 300 employees will be laid off, but it is not clear how many of those jobs will be in Mississippi.
The changes will leave the company with 2,700 employees in three states and Vietnam.
July 13, 2022
Q2 Chemical M&A Activity
Chemical Deal Results
| Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EverZinc (OpenGate Capital) | US Zinc (Aterian) | zinc oxide, zinc dust, and zinc metal products used in the tire, chemical, coatings and agriculture markets | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Noramco | Pharmaron Beijing | API site in Rhode Island | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| DSM/Firmenich | Firmenich/DSM | merger of the 2 companies (animal nutrition, perfume and delivery, food and beverage, health and nutrition) – $13,000s combined | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Noble Gas Solutions | Air Water America | specialty gases, medical gases and industrial gases | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Cary Compounds | Geon (SK Capital) | PVC compounds | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Johnson Matthey | Nano One Materials | Battery Materials Canada (LFP facility in Canada) – $8v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| DSM | Lanxess/Advent JV | Engineered Materials (polyamides (PA6, PA66) as well as various specialty materials (PA46, PA410) and specialty polyesters as well as PPS) – €1,500s/€3.700v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Alliance Adhesives | Applied Adhesives (Arsenal Capital) | regional supplier of adhesives and dispensing equipment solutions located in FL | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Trecora | Balmoral | high purity hydrocarbons and other petroleum-based products (including isopentane, normal pentane, isohexane and hexane) and synthetic waxes – $301s/$247v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| United Gilsonite Laboratories | Sika | coatings for consumer and DIY waterproofing applications | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Seller | Buyer | Business | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lonza | Microsize | particle size reduction and control plant in PA | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| OC Flavors | Shore Capital | natural and organic-compliant liquid and powdered flavors | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Perstorp | Petronas | acquisition of whole company (solutions with focus on the Resins & Coatings, Engineered Fluids and Animal Nutrition markets) – €1,334s/€2,300v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| HIG Capital | SK Capital | Valtris (plastic additives) | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Benjamin Moore | Gemini Coatings | Lenmar® Wood Finishes & Coatings | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Arsenal Capital (CPS Performance Technologies) | Cadre Holdings | Cyalume Technologies (light sticks) – $25s/$35v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Carmelina Capital | SK Capital | Florachem (natural plant-based ingredients including citrus, pine, and specialty rosin resins) | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Mosaic Materials | Baker Hughes | carbon-dioxide capturing materials based on metal-organic frameworks | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| Health Wright Products | IFF | custom formulations, encapsulation and packaging for the dietary supplement industry | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
| DSM | Avient | Protective Materials (including Dyneema brand high strength fiber) – $415s/$1,485v | 2nd Quarter 2022 |
http://www.chemicaldeals.com/Results.aspx?searchtext=&quarter=2nd+Quarter+2022