Country Insight Update

August 2021

Welcome to the latest issue of D&B's Country Insight Update.


Consumer and business sentiment indicators have recovered in countries with advanced vaccination programmes. Economic prospects are diverging sharply along the lines of vaccination rates, and fiscal policy capacity. The delta variant’s increased transmissibility has caused the situation to deteriorate in much of the Asia-Pacific region.

This complimentary newsletter from D&B's Country Insight Services group has been put together by their team of experts using the most up-to-date information to provide a snapshot of the latest macro market risk situation, and provides an excellent overview for those exposed to cross-border credit or investment risks.

D&B Country Insight Snapshots

Designed with the help of our customers these reports build on the key areas assessed by 'D&B's Country Insight Model' and deliver a perfect balance between mitigating risk exposure and providing insight into new opportunities.

Afghanistan

 The overall rating outlook, as well as the credit, supply, market and political outlooks, have all been downgraded to 'deteriorating rapidly' as a result of the assumption of power by the Taliban. Sample button
 

United Kingdom

 We are upgrading the overall country risk rating by one quartile to DB2d as the short-term economic outlook is bouncing back quickly from the pandemic-induced recession. Sample button
 

United States of America

 Drought and extreme weather events - including heatwaves - are disrupting supply chains, keeping business continuity risk elevated. Country RiskLine sample button

To learn more about how these improvements have been designed to meet your needs when trading overseas, please use the contact details below
 

Looking For Different Countries?

D&B Country Insight Services provides analysis on over 130 countries worldwide and its products are available for purchase online by D&B subscribers.

If you wish to order a Country Risk Line Report please call ICAP at +30 210 72 00 050 or e-mail customercare@icap.gr.


D&B Country Insight Services

D&B's Country Insight Snapshots above are written by a team of highly skilled analysts in D&B's Country Insight Services team using exclusive data from its global network of reporting offices as well as primary and secondary data from national and international sources.

These snapshot reports provide a succinct assessment of the risk of doing business in a country, given its economic, political and commercial situation.

Classification: Public

  

World Snapshot - Recent News & Events

AFRICA

Ethiopia: The country rating outlook has been upgraded following the landslide victory for the incumbent Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, at the June parliamentary and regional elections.

Zambia: We have upgraded the country rating outlook to 'stable' after elections in August resulted in comprehensive victories for a new president and government.

MIDDLE EAST

Jordan: The credit environment outlook remains under pressure, despite the IMF agreeing to release another USD206m and increasing its lending facility by a further USD200m.

United Arab Emirates: The business regulatory environment continues to improve as Abu Dhabi and Dubai cut red tape, reduce fees and speed up the issuing of licences.

WESTERN EUROPE

Belgium: The country risk rating has been upgraded to DB2d as the economic outlook lifts, aided by rising vaccination rates and buoyant confidence levels across industry, services and consumers.

United Kingdom: We are upgrading the overall country risk rating by one quartile to DB2d as the short-term economic outlook is bouncing back quickly from the pandemic-induced recession.

EASTERN EUROPE

Latvia: Both the credit and market environment outlooks have been boosted by the vaccination programme, which has also helped to drive buoyant activity in the services sector.

Russian Federation: Massive wildfires burning across Siberia and melting permafrost are threatening communities and vital infrastructure, feeding into a change of tone on anthropogenic climate change at the Kremlin.

ASIA PACIFIC

Afghanistan: The overall rating outlook, as well as the credit, supply, market and political outlooks, have all been downgraded to 'deteriorating rapidly' as a result of the assumption of power by the Taliban.

China: The party and state regulators have moved to reshape some sectors ahead of the 2022-23 political cycle - a demonstrable sign of ongoing regulatory risks.

AMERICAS

Panama: The short-term economic outlook improves with projected growth of 12%, but potential new surges of Covid-19 infections threaten the rebound.

 United States of America: Drought and extreme weather events - including heatwaves - are disrupting supply chains, keeping business continuity risk elevated.