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Global Guide: Facebook Advertising In Europe And The Americas
Columnist Andrew Waber delves into new data on Facebook advertising activity in Europe and the Americas and discusses the key takeaways for marketers.
Earlier this month, Nanigans (my employer) released its analysis and accompanying infographic of Facebook advertising activity in Europe and the Americas.
While the data alone presents a pretty interesting picture, delineating the takeaways for marketers requires a bit more of an in-depth look into the study results.
To recap, our guide to Facebook advertising in Europe and the Americas:
- Examined all Facebook-based ad campaigns run through Nanigans from January 1 through April 30, 2015.
- Analyzed spend, clicks and impressions, with all spend figures converted to US dollars for the sake of consistency.
- Encompassed hundreds of millions of dollars in ad spend and tens of billions of ad impressions across more than 45 European, North and South American countries. Specifically called out are the top four countries in Europe and the Americas, respectively, in terms of GDP.
Facebook’s Global Presence
Nanigans also utilized country-by-country Facebook user totals provided via Facebook’s API, together with the most recent population estimates available to determine Facebook reach as a percentage of a country’s population (click to see image in its own browser window):
As seen above, Facebook’s reach within the top four European and American economies totals more than half of the population within the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
As each of these countries has substantial English-speaking populations, their adoption of Facebook likely started prior to that of predominantly non-English-speaking nations that required more recent language support features.
Many South American Spanish-speaking countries also demonstrate high Facebook penetration rates, presumably doing so in a shorter amount of time than their English-speaking counterparts.
In both Uruguay and Argentina, 56 percent of residents possess Facebook accounts, with the latter achieving the mark even with a population of more than 43 million — greater than that of Canada (~35 million) and only slightly below Spain (~46 million).
This penetration rate is incredibly important to marketers focused globally. Recent surveys suggest that Facebook use is most concentrated in younger, more affluent subsets of the general population, but this is particularly true in developing markets where the cost of purchasing a computer or smartphone may initially be more prohibitive for a good deal of residents.
However, as smartphones become increasingly cheaper to manufacture, a greater percentage of consumers in many countries have the means to upgrade from more rudimentary cell phones.
This shift allows Facebook adoption to rise, and thanks to the real-world personas of an account, the resulting advertiser-addressable Facebook user base slowly becomes more diverse and likely more representative of the country’s population.
Analyzing Cost Per Click
Of course, in terms of measuring potential costs and ROI, a slightly clearer means of viewing the current state of each market can be done through an analysis of cost-per-click (CPC), as seen in the earlier graph.
In Europe, the UK’s high CPC may in part be driven by the country’s large mobile user base and robust ad infrastructure, developments that have been noted both in terms of growth and existing spend levels.
Looking specifically at mobile CPCs, Norway has the highest of any country, at $1.10, a full 31 percent more expensive than the UK’s $0.84 mobile figure and over 117 percent more expensive than the European mobile average of $0.51.
It’s worth noting that the UK and Norway have historically been more expensive places to advertise in general. In the latter case, Norwegian consumers are some of the most likely users to buy on their mobile phones, justifying the increased cost.
In terms of CTR, German users are the most likely to click on Facebook ads out of all European countries studied, at rates 63 percent above that of the European average. While German CPCs are also comparatively low, minimizing the cost of advertising, keep in mind that Facebook users constitute only 32 percent of the German population.
Test Your Campaigns
In markets like this, it’s worth testing campaigns to see what subsections of the population are most addressable via Facebook.
Looking at the Americas, Chilean mobile users exhibit the highest mobile CTR (1.5 percent), at a level equaling that of Europe-leading Germany. However, it’s important to note that there is much less variability in mobile CTRs within the Western Hemisphere, compared to Europe.
At a high level, the United States, Mexico and Brazil all have mobile user bases that click on ads at rates only slightly below that of Chile. While Germany outpaces the European mobile CTR average by 60 percent, this lead is only 14 percent in the case of Chile.
As such, it’s likely easier to estimate expected engagement rates for mobile campaigns running across multiple countries in the Americas, as opposed to multi-country European initiatives, even excluding the language differences.
While Europe and the Americas have generally been desirable markets for advertisers due to their sizable numbers of developed or developing markets, the stats above highlight that there remain some striking differences and similarities between countries on a number of key ad-specific metrics.
It’s worth keeping these differences, along with Facebook penetration rates, in mind when constructing a strategy in international markets, concerning expected spend, engagement and reach.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.
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Is a localised .melbourne or .sydney URL worth the price?
Since localised .melbourne and .sydney URLs were announced as an option for Australian brands, the marketing community’s response has been mixed as to whether the cost is worth the investment. With some localised domains costing up to eight times the amount of .com.au URLs, we asked three industry experts to weigh in on the topic.
Luke Kelly, digital director, HBT Agency
Kelly says URL selection is more of a “localised exercise” for brands because less importance is being placed on premium domains.
“From a Google ranking perspective, extensions that don’t fit traditional .com or .com.au formats do not incur any penalty. This means marketers can embrace branding opportunities without being penalised, for say, having a .melbourne over a .com.au.”
He says regardless of which URL a brand invests in, content is at the core of all marketing activities on the web.
“Content plays a big part in Google rankings. As long as brands are producing relevant, quality, authoritative content, their efforts will put their best foot forward.”
Jason O’Donnell, SEO expert, Marin Software
O’Donnell agrees that content should be core to a brand’s web activities, and that it should be “readable, useful and unique”, and relate directly to the offer.
He says localised URLs may appeal to a certain type of consumer.
“Any brands using .sydney and .melbourne domains are verified as local businesses, so by nature they deliver some credibility and legitimacy to consumers who prefer to shop local.”
There are robust debates about the impact localised domains have on SEO results. In recent German study, it was found while localised URLs may help, it is not going to be a silver bullet. In fact, average SEO improvements were only an increase of 1.18 positions.
O’Donnell says this can make an incremental impact over time for brands already in a good position.
“If you’re ranked as number two, and you additionally have a .sydney or .melbourne URL in addition to .com.au, you may see minimal benefits that will attribute to going up to the number one ranking.”
George Hedon, founder, PauseFest
Melbourne’s digital and innovation festival, PauseFest was the first enterprise in Australia to use .melbourne in its marketing in 2014, a decision made because of the brand’s local focus.
“PauseFest stands for celebrating Australia’s creative culture on an international stage, so we snapped up the .melbourne and .sydney domains as soon as we could,” Hedon says.
“Australia has an incredible reputation overseas with leading tech companies and in Melbourne specifically, Zero Latency, (the world’s first wireless virtual reality system), 99designs, The Creature Technology, all based here. From a branding perspective, having both URLs communicates we support Australian creative and are proud of the creativity that comes out of the country.”

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PayPal has confirmed that a researcher found a high-severity security vulnerability that could expose user passwords to an attacker. The researcher, Alex Birsan, earned a bug bounty of $15,300 (£11,700) for reporting the problem, which was disclosed January 8 having been patched by PayPal on December 11, 2019.
Hacker explores PayPal login form, finds a big problem
“This is the story of a high-severity bug affecting what is probably one of PayPal’s most visited pages,” Birsan wrote in his public disclosure of the vulnerability, “the login form.”
PayPal confirms high-severity password vulnerability
PayPal confirmed that, “sensitive, unique tokens were being leaked in a JS file used by the recaptcha implementation.” In certain circumstances, users have to solve a CAPTCHA challenge after authenticating, and PayPal noted that “the exposed tokens were used in the POST request to solve the CAPTCHA.” The circumstances being several failed login attempts that kick off the reCAPTCHA authentication challenge. Which is OK, until you realize that, as Birsan explained, “the response to the next authentication attempt is a page containing nothing but a Google captcha. If the captcha is solved by the user, an HTTP POST request to /auth/validatecaptcha is initiated.”
Sophisticated attack strategy required
Not that the attack methodology was straightforward, but threat actors are not afraid of sophisticated strategies if the potential payout is worth it. I think we can all agree that access to a PayPal account falls into the “worth it” category.
PayPal confirmed that a user would need to follow a login link from a malicious site and enter their PayPal credentials. The attacker could then complete the security challenge, which would trigger an authentication request replay to expose the password. “This exposure only occurred,” PayPal said, “if a user followed a login link from a malicious site, similar to a phishing page.”
As Birsan said, however, in the real-world of the social engineering attack, “the only user interaction needed would have been a single visit to an attacker-controlled web page.”
PayPal patches password vulnerability
Birsan submitted his proof of concept of all the above to PayPal, via the HackerOne bug bounty platform, on November 18, 2019. The exploit was validated by HackerOne 18 days later, and Birsan received his bounty payment on December 10.
Within 24 hours, PayPal had patched the vulnerability.
PayPal said that it “implemented additional controls on the security challenge request to prevent token reuse, which resolved the issue, and no evidence of abuse was found.”
Hacking for cash and kudos
HackerOne is a hugely popular bug bounty platform that connects ethical hackers with organizations that pay rewards for vulnerabilities that are found in their software, services or products. Those rewards can be extremely lucrative, as I revealed recently when I wrote about six HackerOne hackers who had made more than $1 million (£764,000) each from the platform. One hacker even managed to hack the HackerOne platform itself and earned himself $20,000 (£15,250) in so doing.
Security researcher Alex Birsan didn’t get quite as much for finding the high-rated PayPal vulnerability, but it was still a decent enough payday. Not as big as the reward on offer for anyone who can hack a Tesla Model 3 electric car though. The hacker who meets that challenge at the Pwn2Own hacking contest in March could pick up $700,000 (£535,000) and a brand new Tesla Model 3 for good measure. Even that pales into insignificance compared to the $1.5 million (£1,145,000) that Apple has confirmed for hacking the iPhone.


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3rd-i, a provider of mobile security camera solutions, is set to launch the first ever mobile phone-based security system in the UK this Autumn.
With the fear of crime on the increase and the cost of CCTV too high for domestic use, the 3rd-i mobile phone-based security system is a simple, easy to use and cost effective product for mobile phone users who want to keep an eye on their possessions and reduce the threat of burglary in their homes.
The 3rd-i security system, recently featured on ITV’s This Morning, is based on a small camera that can be positioned to keep an eye on anything that you value, for example: around the home, in the garage or even in the car.
Once the small camera is in position, you can view live footage of your possessions whenever and from wherever you want to by pressing the assigned keys on your mobile phone.
For true peace of mind, 3rd-i mobile phone security system keeps an eye on your possessions even when you are not watching the camera. Using infrared and motion sensors, the camera detects when an intruder has entered your home and the 3rd-i control centre immediately sends a text message alert to your mobile phone.
You can then access a recording of the event that set the camera off or view the location in real-time. Images are stored at the 3rd-i control centre for up to 30 days, so if the mobile phone is switched off when the alert is sent, footage of the event is still available.


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Hamburg Süd Expands Service
The trade between Europe and Central America, Caribbean and South America West Coast has always been a key element in the container liner shipping line Hamburg Süd’s global network of liner services.In cooperation with Maersk, Hamburg Süd will be expanding and enhancing the services it offers on this core trade beginning in June 2019.“Combining the strengths of Hamburg Süd and Maersk, we can offer our customers a best in class stand-alone service configuration without having to depend on vessel sharing agreements with other shipping companies…
PISR touts its Detention 'Clean Sheet'
Palau International Ship Registry (PISR) reports it has recorded a zero percentage detention record with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in the latest figures issued for 2016-2018 Port State Control examinations.The USCG targets flags for additional Port State Control examinations if their detention ratio scores are higher than the three-year rolling average detention record. In the latest figures, PISR recorded an overall 0.00% detention record with zero detentions for safety playing a major part in this.In the two year period recorded…
Maersk Adds APM in Logistics Division
A.P. Moller - Maersk said it will integrate APM Terminals' Inland Services division into Maersk's Logistics and Services division beginning August, providing customers with seamless access to a wider range of logistics & services offerings."This is a next step for A.P. Moller - Maersk in the implementation of our strategy to offer end-to-end solutions to our customers," said a press release.The Inland Services portfolio is a network of inland terminals around the globe consisting of 36 business units with over 100 locations.
PSA, SATS Mull Multimodal Transport Hub in Singapore
Port and terminal operator PSA International and ground handler and in-flight caterer SATS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in seamlessly connecting their sea and air transport services, with the goal of improving supply chain efficiency and boosting Singapore’s status as a multimodal transport hub.Under the MoU, PSA and SATS will work together on initiatives such as “yard-to-port” data linkages, network extensions between both companies, and enhanced track-and-trace capabilities.
Gothenburg Port Authority Appoints New CEO
Gothenburg Port Authority, Sweden has informed that Elvir Dzanic has been appointed as its new chief executive officer (CEO).Elvir is currently Vice President of Business Development at Ceva Logistics North America, based in Houston. A global company with 52,000 employees.Elvir Dzanic has wide-ranging experience in the transport sector, both globally and in Sweden. Gothenburg is also Elvir Dzanic’s home city, and he holds a degree in shipping and logistics from Chalmers University of Technology.“The Port of Gothenburg is the heart of the Swedish export and import sector…
Singapore Opens 24/7 Maritime Cybersecurity Center
Niam Chiang Meng, Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), opened a new 24/7 Maritime Cybersecurity Operations Centre (MSOC) yesterday (May 16). The MSOC will be operated by ST Engineering in its Hub.According to a press release from MPA, MSOC will conduct 24/7 monitoring and correlate data activities across all maritime Critical Information Infrastructure (CII). It will have the capability to (a) detect and monitor cyber-attacks by analysing activities in the IT environment…
CMA CGM Launches Reefer Pharma Division
CMA CGM Group, a leader in shipping and logistics, has announced the launch of its new Reefer Pharma division, specially dedicated to temperature-controlled shipping of pharmaceutical products and boasting advanced expertise.A dedicated team of experts in close proximity to customersFor organizing and closely monitoring the shipping of this highly sensitive cargo, CMA CGM provides its customers with a dedicated team of experts who ensure 24/7 monitoring from the Group's head office in Marseilles…
Shea to Receive 2019 Connie Award
William J. “Bill” Shea, Jr. to Receive 2019 Connie Award in Long Beach, CAJ. Christopher Lytle to Be Honored with the Lifetime Achievement AwardWilliam J. “Bill” Shea, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Direct ChassisLink Inc. (DCLI), will receive the 2019 Connie Award presented by the Containerization and Intermodal Institute on September 17. The industry-wide event to honor Mr. Shea will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Long Beach, CA.In his current position, Mr. Shea has been…
Cosco Completes US$3bn Peru Port Deal
Hong Kong-based international port operator Cosco Shipping Ports has completed the equity transaction of project company responsible for its greenfield subsidiary at the Port of Chancay, Peru.With the equitytransaction of the Project Company was officially completed on 10 May 2019, Port of Chancay became the company’s first greenfield subsidiary in South America and COSCO Shipping Ports plans to developing the port to an important gateway port in South America.In January 2019…
Yang Ming Establishes Indonesia Subsidiary
Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. will form a new subsidiary with partners in Jakarta Indonesia named PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia Today (16th May 2019).PT Yang Ming Shipping Indonesia will have branch offices at Surabaya, Panjang, and Palembang. The company has nominated Benson Chou as President Director for the first term."Prompted by the rapid economic growth in Southeast Asia, global carriers begin to strengthen their regional services to meet the growing market demand.
Svitzer Divests its Portuguese Business
Svitzer intends to sell its Portuguese marine operations to Pioneiro do Rio, Serviços Maritimos, Lda., a company which has Rui Cruz, the current managing director of Svitzer Portugal, among its owners.The operation in Portugal has faced declining volumes and the synergy between the Portuguese ports and Svitzer’s remaining European and global portfolio has proven limited. Svitzer’s operation in Portugal covers three ports: Lisbon, Setubal, and Sines and holds a fleet of 15 tugs.
BV Releases Optimum Survey Planning
With the release of Optimum Survey Planning (OSP) Bureau Veritas continues to develop more efficient tools to support classification and statutory surveys and audits. The new application moves planning of surveys from a reactive to a proactive approach, providing a recommendation of the most convenient date and place to perform the needed surveys. This increases efficiency and convenience for the managers of ships requiring surveys – saving time, money and reducing any impact on ship operations.The application is embedded within VeriStar Info…
One Dead, One Hurt in Los Angeles Port Accident
An industrial accident on Wednesday, May 15 at a Port of Los Angeles container terminal tragically took the life of an International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) worker and seriously injured a second worker. The incident occurred at approximately 7:25 a.m. at Fenix Marine Services at Pier 300. According to initial reports, an equipment accident involving a top loader container handler caused the death of one worker and injured the other. The injured worker was transported to Harbor UCLA Medical Center. The names of those involved in the accident are not yet available.
CPA Announces P3 Investment in State Pier
Connecticut Port Authority and Governor Lamont announced $93 million public-private investment in State Pier to develop Connecticut into the center of New England’s offshore wind industry.May 2, 2019 was a historic day for job creation and economic growth across southeastern Connecticut.The Connecticut Port Authority, Gateway Terminal, Eversource and Ørsted announced a partnership to revitalize State Pier and establish New London as a major northeast center for the growing offshore…
Global Problem, Local Action: IMO/EU Initiative
A new IMO video puts the spotlight on how an IMO/EU initiative is helping cut maritime emissions in the Solomon Islands as part of a global project to help tackle climate change.When the solar-powered LED lights go on at night in the port of Honiara, Solomon Islands, they are helping the port meet IMO maritime security requirements.But these lights are also a shining example of how a global project, through regional centers, can help individual countries' ports and shipping sectors improve energy efficiency, cut emissions and clean up local air quality.
Schulte Launches VC Fund for Maritime
Germany’s Schulte Group has launched a venture capital unit - INNOPORT - to identify investment opportunities in the global maritime start-up eco-system.The INNOPORT team, based in Hamburg, Limassol and Singapore, is headed by Yiannis Sykas, Director of Strategy and Product Development at Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM).INNOPORT will support high-potential early-stage maritime and logistics startups predominantly in Europe and Asia, with the flexibility to collaborate with startups from all geographic areas.“At INNOPORT, we want to build bridges and open doors wherever possible.
Cosco Eyes PIL Takeover
After buying several container factories from its smaller competitor Singapore-based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL), China’s Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. is eyeing it as a potential takeover target.The Chinese state-run ocean carrier had bought part of debt-ridden PIL’s container-manufacturing business, and executives at the Chinese carrier believe they could wrap up a deal for the entire business if family-owned PIL’s owners decide to sell, reported WSJ.Cosco…
PIL Enhances Transpacific Services
The Singapore-based family-owned shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) announced that PIL will be enhancing our Transpacific service by offering direct services from Vietnam to the U.S West Coast, with effect from end April 2019.America China Service 5 (AC5) will be adding Haiphong as first port of call with effect from 30th April 2019.Full rotation of America China Service 5 (AC5): Haiphong - Nansha - Hong Kong - Yantian - Long Beach - Oakland - Yantian - HaiphongPIL also launched a new string…
Dublin Get Kalmar AutoRTG Cranes
The cargo handling solutions and services provider, Kalmar has concluded an agreement with Dublin Ferryport Terminals (DFT) to extend the Kalmar AutoRTG system at the terminal with two new AutoRTG cranes.The order was booked in Cargotec's 2019 Q2 order intake, with delivery of the machines scheduled to be completed during Q2 of 2020, Kalmar, part of Cargotec, said. Part of the container and terminal division of Irish Continental Group, DFT operates the most modern container terminal at Dublin Port, with an annual throughput of approximately 380,000 TEU.
Thad Allen Joins HudsonAnalytix
HudsonAnalytix, announced that Admiral Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard retired, has joined their operation as a Senior Executive Advisor.Admiral Allen served as the 23rd Commandant of the Coast Guard from 2006 to 2010. He will be focusing on risk management for the global maritime transportation sector served by Hudson. Focus areas include regulatory and policy issues, crisis response and disaster management, environmental compliance, and cyber risk to shipping, ports, and supply chains.
Bulk Shipping Comes Back to Oakland Port
Bulk shipping operations could soon return to the San Francisco Bay's Port of Oakland for the first time in 20 years. The Port said it’s negotiating with a Canadian building materials shipper to transport sand and gravel here.The Port’s governing Board yesterday authorized talks with Vancouver-based Eagle Rock Aggregates. The firm seeks a vessel berth along with 20 acres of adjacent land at the Port’s Outer Harbor Terminal.Eagle Rock would use the property as a base for distributing sand and gravel for Bay Area construction sites.
Nieuw Statendam's Maiden Call in Amsterdam
The newest cruise ship in the Holland America Line fleet, the Nieuw Statendam, made its maiden call to the port of Amsterdam on Sunday, 5 May 2019.The second Pinnacle Class ship moored at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) and was welcomed with a water salute by Port of Amsterdam. Amsterdam will be the ship’s home port during the upcoming summer season.This was the maiden call for the ship that was christened by Oprah Winfrey in Ft. Lauderdale last February. A cruise ship’s maiden call to a port is traditionally accompanied by a plaque & key ceremony.Alma Prins-Droog…
TECH FILE: Container exchange: matchmakers for lonely containers
Avoid empty container moves and save environmental costs in shipping.It is an all too common scenario in container logistics: A carrier has 100 empty boxes in Hamburg that must be transported to China for export cargo. None of the carrier’s northern European customers’ needs these containers to ship goods to China. So, the carrier must pay USD $500 per container (mainly fees charged by terminals and trucking companies), to transport its empty boxes from Hamburg to Shanghai.On average, the CO2 emission per container handled from China to Europe amounts to 1.913 kg.
Port of Kiel Enables Emission-Free Berthing
The Port of Kiel’s first shore-based power supply plant for shipping was officially inaugurated at the Norwegenkai on May 9th, said the Baltic region port.With immediate effect, the Color Line’s big cruise-ferries can now be supplied with emission-free electric power from on shore.Minister-President of the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, Daniel Günther said: “By using power from on shore we are reducing to zero the emission of harmful substances as well as of greenhouse gas-es during the time ships are berthed in the port.
HHLA's Earnings Up in Q1 2019
German terminal operator Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) revenue increases by 10.3 % in the first quarter of 2019, despite a challenging market environment, said the company.Container throughput increased slightly, partly due to the successful integration of the Estonian terminal operator HHLA TK Estonia last year. Extremely positive performance in container transport and property management led to a revenue of € 347.6 million (+ 10.3 %).The operating result (EBIT) was far above the level of last year, increasing by € 11.8 million or 24.5 % to € 59.7 million.
APL Enhances Japan Thailand Vietnam Service
APL has announced that the Japan Thailand Vietnam (JTV) service is extending its port rotation to the Philippines and within South China. The refined service will be calling three additional ports in Manila, Shekou and Nansha as part of its service rotation.The enhanced JTV service is primed to facilitate direct shipments from the load ports in South China to the Philippines, promising a fast 3-day Shekou-Manila transit time. The weekly service will also provide direct access to Laem Chabang in Thailand from Manila.
New Savannah-Central America Route
The Port of Savannah welcomed its first Seaboard Marine vessel Wednesday. The new shipping line customer supports Savannah's cold chain logistics system with one new service to Central America, and a second to Latin America and the Caribbean.The ocean carrier's first service to Savannah links the Southeastern U.S. to northern Central America, with Georgia exports centered on frozen poultry and imports composed largely of perishables and apparel produced in Guatemala, El Salvador…
Coast Guard Foundation Presents Award to Crowley
The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, recently recognized Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley Jr. and Crowley Maritime Corporation for more than 30 years of support at its 25th Tribute to the Coast Guard Seventh District event in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The event, originally scheduled for late January but postponed due to the partial government shutdown, was held April 18. The rescheduled date did nothing to dampen spirits…
Port of Oakland Imports Up as Tariffs Loom
On the eve of threatened tariff increases, the Port of Oakland says its import business is still growing. The Port has reported that its containerized import volume jumped 7 percent last month compared to April 2018. It was the busiest April in the Port’s 92-year history.The Port said import totals have increased in three of the first four months of 2019. It added that export volume edged up 1.7 percent last month.Oakland’s trade numbers predated U.S. warnings of increased tariffs on Chinese goods that could take effect tomorrow.
Russian Oil Contamination Still a Problem for Buyers at Ust-Luga Port
Russian oil quality from the Baltic port of Ust-Luga was improving on Thursday but still not good enough for refiners in Europe, with required standards expected only by May 11, trading sources said.The oil has been contaminated with organic chlorides, which can destroy refining equipment.
INSIGHTS: Transportation Industry Outlook 2019
The driver shortage will once again shape the trucking industry in the coming year. For ocean shipping, that’s a real problem. Any transport mode is only as good as the one that immediately follows or precedes it in the intermodal supply chain.For trucking, the outlook hasn’t changed much in the last two years: Too much freight and not enough drivers to haul it. It’s both the best and worst of times all at once. True, this means the U.S. economy is still very healthy. But, it also means that carriers struggle to recruit and retain quality drivers – and that can be frustrating.
DP World Acquires Fraser Surrey Docks
DP World, one of the world's largest port operators, said on Thursday it has agreed to buy Canadian marine terminal Fraser Surrey Docks from a Macquarie Group fund.The purchase consideration is below 2.5 percent of DP World's net asset value as of December 31, 2018, the port operator said, which Reuters calculated to be under $300 million.The marine terminal, is being acquired through Canadian subsidiary DP World Canada Investment Inc, which is 45 percent owned by Caisse de dépot et placement du Québec (CDPQ).The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2019, DP World said.
New Intermodal for Fresh Produce
A new dedicated perishables reefer train link between Spain and the Netherlands opened on Moday (May 06, 2019) and could save up to thousands of trucks trips a year.CoolRail, the new direct rail connection set up especially for fresh produce, will be transporting cargo between Valencia and Rotterdam three times a week.While transporting products to the Netherlands takes just as long via the temperature-controlled train as road haulage, trains are far more sustainable – with a CO2 reduction of 70 to 90% compared to trucks.CoolRail is an initiative of Euro Pool System…
Ocean Alliance Maiden call at Hamburg Port
The first container-ship in the new Asia service Loop 7 - the Taurus, 14.424 TEU, belonging to the Ocean Alliance - has berthed in the Port of Hamburg.Port of Hamburg said that this service is part of the new Day 3 Product, with which the Alliance consisting of CMA CGM, Cosco, Evergreen and OOCL is entering its third year.With DAY 3, the Ocean Alliance has 330 containerships in 38 services, increasing its transport capacity to 3.8 million TEU. With Loop 7, six out of seven Ocean…
APM Terminals to Support SCCT
The international container terminal operating company headquartered in The Hague, APM Terminals said that it is working closely with the government of Egypt on the final pieces of the jigsaw that will ensure the success of Egypt Vision 2030 for Port Said East Port and the Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT).Once in place, it is set to regain its position as one of the most competitive ports in the South and East Mediterranean region, APM said in a press release.As part of Egypt Vision 2030, the Egyptian Government has made massive investments in infrastructure.
Rotterdam, Guangzhou Ports Sign Sister Deal
The representatives of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the port authority of Guangzhou signed a partnership agreement.As per agreement signed at the Chinese port, both organisations will be sharing expertise and best practices in the field of port management. This partnership is in line with the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s strategic goals to share its knowledge and expertise with ports around the world and establish itself as a frontrunner in the development of new markets.The port of Rotterdam has a strong international reputation thanks to its outstanding port infrastructure…
PSA to Acquire Halterm, Penn Terminals
Singapore-headquartered port operator PSA International is all set to take over the Halterm Container Terminal in the Port of Halifax, Canada, and multipurpose Penn Terminals in Pennsylvania, USA.Both Halterm and Penn terminals are 100% owned by Macquarie Infrastructure Partner funds, a fund managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). The price was not disclosed.Halterm terminal at the Port of Halifax is the largest container terminal in Eastern Canada. Penn Terminals located in Philadelphia…
First Ship from Antwerp to Açu
As BBC Amethyst anchored in Porto do Açu, Brazil, she becomes the first vessel to make the big crossing from Antwerp to the Brazilian sea port."Quite an achievement for Port of Antwerp International and the local partners who invested in the Brazilian port, thereby promoting trade with Antwerp. Brazil, the biggest economy of Latin America and number 7 in the world, is a key trading partner for the Port of Antwerp," said a press release from the Europe’s second-largest seaport.A Siemens gas turbine…
Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor wins PCA Award
The Northwest Indiana Partners for Clean Air (PCA) has selected the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor to receive the 2019 PCA Industrial Award. This award is in recognition of the voluntary actions taken in 2018 to improve air quality in Northwest Indiana.PCA’s award system has four categories: Municipal, Industrial, Business, and Bicycle. According to PCA, this award is a way to recognize those entities that go above and beyond their regulatory requirements.The PCA said the following…
Amsterdam Port Post Record Profit
Port of Amsterdam realised net profit of EUR 68.5 million in 2018, which represents a 12.5% increase compared to 2017 (net profit of EUR 60.9 million).Revenue rose slightly in 2018, rising 5 percent to EUR 157.4 million, primarily due to a record amount of land allocations totalling 45.1 hectares (2017: 18 hectares) and an increase in harbour dues owing to a record level of transhipment totalling 82.3 million tonnes of cargo (2017: 81.3 million tonnes).The annual figures show a financially healthy position for Port of Amsterdam, which is benefitting from the favourable economic climate.
LSCT Welcomes MSC Trieste
With the arrival of the MSC Trieste, Contship’s La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) greeted the maiden voyage of the “revised” Dragon/AE20 service from Asia operated by 2M joint partners, MSC and Maersk Line.Like its predecessor, the service calls La Spezia as its first gateway port call in the West Mediterranean, taking advantage of the connectivity throughout Italy as well as southern Europe.The number of port calls in the rotation has been reduced to improve schedule integrity and overall service efficiency.
Marseille Fos Names MD
Former port of Le Havre managing director Hervé Martel has started work as interim managing director of the Marseille Fos port authority following his nomination by the French transport minister. His appointment is now due to be officially ratified by the leading French port’s supervisory board. Martel joins the executive board in succession to Christine Cabau Woehrel, who left in March on completion of her five-year term to re-join Marseille-based CMA CGM as director of assets.Meanwhile Marc Forneri has been re-elected for a second five-year term as supervisory board chairman.
Konecranes Cranes for Winning Int'l Group
A fleet of specially-designed, durable and productive Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes is enhancing supply chain efficiency for Winning International Group.The cranes play a critical role in Winning International Group’s supply chain, by loading 30,000 tonnes per day of bauxite from feeder barges onto a mother vessel, ready for shipment between China and West Africa.“Our Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes have proven themselves in a rough open-sea environment. They have been custom-tailored to our bauxite handling application…
New GAC UK Offices in Harwich & Ramsgate
GAC UK has opened two new branches, in Harwich and Ramsgate, to meet the increased demand in oil, gas and renewables work in the South of England.Both locations are actively servicing projects within their areas, and their addition to the GAC UK network of offices further strengthens its focus on providing its energy customers with round-the-clock local knowledge and expertise.The port of Harwich is fast becoming a hot spot for renewable projects with development underway on a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance base for Galloper Offshore Wind Farm.
BUNKERS MANAGEMENT: Fifty Shades of Preparedness for IMO 2020
Get ready for unprecedented disruption as 2020 nears, says Alok Sharma, Senior Vice President at Inatech.When January 1, 2020, arrives and the global 0.5% sulfur cap comes into force, it will trigger the biggest and most sudden change the shipping industry has ever seen. Overnight, about 90% of global demand for bunker fuel must switch from HFO to low-sulfur alternatives and no one knows quite what will happen. The closest event in terms of seismic change was when the sulfur emission control areas (SECAs) came into effect in January 2015…
Maersk Delivers Reefer Exports of Butter From India to Turkey
Maersk, a global integrator of container logistics, delivered it’s first-ever shipment of butter from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh (part of the Delhi National Capital Region) to Turkey. Butter exporter VRS Foods exported an initial 6 containers of their brand, Paras Dairy Butter, through Maersk’s First Mile Delivery reefer service which helps businesses with intermodal, customs clearance, and documentation needs to enable seamless trade.This has opened up a niche cargo category encouraging the shipping of an array of commodities within the reefer segment.Currently…
U.S. Dredgers Applaud President for Jones Act Support
Wednesday, 1 May: Late this afternoon, President Donald Trump met with Congressional leaders from the Senate and House to discuss U.S. Maritime Policy. On the table was the Jones Act. President Trump assured the Congressional leaders that he is not seeking any changes to the Jones Act, nor is he seeking any waivers.“President Trump had the Jones Act matters all under control from the get-go”, said William P. Doyle, CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America. “Mr. Trump is all about jobs and national security — he’s never wavered on this.
Rotterdam Port Intros Rotterdam Food Hub
The Port of Rotterdam has announced the establishment of the Rotterdam Food Hub, strengthening its position as Western Europe’s biggest transit port for agricultural, horticultural and fishery products.Part of this strategy is the establishment of the Rotterdam Food Hub at Calandkanaal, at the entrance to Maasvlakte. The 60-hectare industrial site is being prepared to offer optimal facilities for ‘agrofood’ sector companies.Land allocation discussions taking place with interested…
Propeller Club Names Cullather as EVP
The Board of Directors of the International Propeller Club of the United States has selected Mr. John M. Cullather as its new Executive Vice President.In the role of Executive Vice President, he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the International Propeller Club, will oversee all activities and functions of the International Propeller Club of the United States, and will serve as the primary liaison to the Club’s 70 port chapters worldwide. Along with the Board of Directors…
Zier Joins Crowley Offshore Services
Crowley Maritime Corp. has appointed Jonathan Zier manager of business development in Houston.Zier will assist customers globally with marine transportation projects such as sealifts and beach-landings, as well as offshore and coastal towing and installation of rigs, spars and other structures. He will also be responsible for providing solutions for alternative energy projects such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, offshore wind power generation, and other projects requiring offshore or coastal equipment and expertise.Zier will report to Johan Sperling…
JAXPORT Unveils New Logo
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) unveiled its new brand today to more than 350 transportation industry professionals from across North America at the JAXPORT Logistics and Intermodal Conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.JAXPORT reimagined its brand with a new logo, new website and updated social media, positioning the Florida port as a premier, global gateway that delivers a world-class customer experience.The new logo reflects JAXPORT’s worldwide trade lanes including connections with Asia…
Ports Part of Solution, Not the Problem - BPA Chair
Martin Lawlor, Chief Executive at the Port of Blyth and Chair of the British Ports Association: "Ports part of the solution, not the problem on a range of challenges facing the UK."A record turnout of over 300 guests gathered in London today for the British Ports Association’s annual lunch and AGM, which struck an optimistic tone about the role of ports in supporting a range of economic and environmental goals.Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, speaking at the lunch, said: “Ports are key to the vitality of the UK economy – underpinning regional and national growth.
Port of Baku Pact with European Logistics Hub
The leading companies operating in the city of Venlo in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is one of the largest logistics and transport hubs in Europe, have started cooperation with Baku International Sea Trade Port CJSC.Last week, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the government of the state of Limburg, which includes the city of Venlo and leading companies with the Port of Baku.The Memo envisages cooperation with the government of the province of Limburg, companies Cabooter Group…
SC Ports to Use Tideworks Solutions
The provider of comprehensive terminal operating system (TOS) solutions, Tideworks Technology announced that South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) has successfully gone live with Tideworks’ graphical planning solution, Spinnaker, at the Port of Charleston’s Wando Welch and North Charleston terminals.This is the first phase of the Port of Charleston project and the second implementation of Tideworks’ TOS solutions within the SCPA network. Inland Port Dillon went live with Tideworks’ Intermodal Pro® terminal operating system in April 2018.In this first phase of the project…
Port of Brownsville Connector Cleared
The South Port Connector Road Project received environmental clearance from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Pharr District Office, advancing the project to the construction phase.The project is part of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s (CCRMA) East Loop Corridor plan. When complete, the South Port Connector Road will span two miles and will connect Ostos Road at the Port of Brownsville with State Highway 4.The project will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity…
OOIL Sells Long Beach Terminal for $1.8bln
Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas International Ltd. (OOIL) said that it will sell Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) to a consortium led by Australia’s Macquarie Group for $1.78 billion.OOIL, which is majority-owned by Cosco Shipping Holdings, was the terminal operator under a lease agreement with the port. It has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of LBCT to the consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners (MIP). LBCT LLC operates the container terminal in the Port of Long Beach…
Commissioner C.A. “Pete” Shelton Retires
After nearly three decades and over 400 board meetings, Commissioner C.A. “Pete” Shelton retired from the Port of Beaumont Board of Commissioners, attending his final board meeting on April 29, 2019.Commissioner Pete Shelton, who served as Beaumont’s fire chief for 20 years, was first appointed to the Port of Beaumont Board in 1989 as one of two at-large commissioners. A Beaumont native, Shelton joined the fire department in 1950 and was fire chief from 1976 until he retired in 1996.
CMA CGM Reshuffles CEVA Logistics Management
French container transportation and shipping giant appointed its Chairman and CEO Rodolph Saade as the new chariman of Swiss third-party logistics provider CEVA Logistics, thus asserting its near-full control over CEVA.Nicolas Sartini, who currently holds the position of Group Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of CEVA is appointed Chief Executive Officer as from June 1st. He will bring his experience and expertise to CEVA as it embarks on a new journey. He will replace Xavier Urbain who will become Executive Advisor to Rodolphe Saadé.Marvin O. Schlanger, Victor Balli, Dr.
WiseTech Global Acquires Xware
Global logistics software group, WiseTech Global has announced the acquisition of Xware, a messaging integration solutions provider in Sweden.Xware’s secure, interoperable messaging solution, xTrade, is designed to link organisations to their suppliers and partners, allowing them to safely share information across application to application, business to business, managed file transfers, business process management and IoT ̶ essential for real-time messaging, queued business flows and data integration.
Hamburg Süd Christens “Polar Mexico”
Hamburg Süd christened the “Polar Mexico” container ship in the Mexican port of Veracruz on the weekend.The sponsor of the “Polar Mexico” is Claudia Dávila, wife of Carlos Ayala, Logistics and Distribution Director of Alpek Polyester, which is a subsidiary of the Alfa Group, one of the largest corporate groups in Mexico.The Mexican economy is strong in the fruit sector as well as in other industries with high import and export volumes, such as automobile manufacturing, chemicals and brewing.


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Turkey, Algeria Sign Trade Agreements
Turkey and Algeria have signed a number of agreements on the sidelines of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s two-day visit to the Maghreb country, with the Turkish leader pushing for higher trade goals, Hurriyet reported.
Algeria’s state-owned energy company SONATRACH and Turkey’s Rönesans and Bayegan energy firms have agreed on a $1 billion investment in the petrochemical sector, Erdoğan said on Feb. 27 in Algiers, where he attended a Turkey-Algeria Business Forum.
The forum came one day after Erdoğan met with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia in the city.
The investment will be made in the Adana Yumurtalık Free Zone, located in Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Adana.
Erdoğan said the plant at the economic zone would produce 450,000 tons of polypropylene per year and that the raw material will be provided by Algeria.
Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer, which is used in various sectors such as spare parts used in the automotive industry, packaging of textile and food.
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- » Fifty People Protested in front of the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje
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“RVing is about making memories, but ownership has practical considerations,” said Aram Koltookian, president. “The K-Z RV app simplifies the journey, delivering what you had in mind when you bought your RV – your time to enjoy.”
Powered by the TH2 technology company Togo, the K-Z RV app helps owners get service, providing smart notifications for maintenance and ownership details like vehicle registration due dates, plus access to digital owners’ manuals and brand-specific updates. Checklists help with home departure as well as campsite arrival and departure. The K-Z RV app also integrates with travel planning tool Roadtrippers, and peer-to-peer RV rental app Mighway. Future enhancements will include roadside assistance, how-to guides and more.
“Internet-based living is expanding, especially as younger digital native populations, who have been immersed in technology from birth, discover RVing,” said Koltookian. “They are driving our future. The rest of us, digital immigrants who embraced technology as adults, can’t live without our smart phones either. The K-Z RV app is part of the transformation, re-imagining the RV experience. It is indispensable to K-Z and Venture owners, even if their units aren’t new.”
*Redacted from published piece by RV Pro, by RV Pro staff. February 2019.


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Everyone hates parasites, but the thought of worms in my eyes really makes me shudder. Luckily there is hope for those unlucky enough to suffer from parasitic eye worms, as a new smartphone app can detect them.
The phone is held to a lens over a blood sample and the app starts videoing. If it sees any movement, healthcare workers know that a parasite might be present. This easy-to-use device can save time and expensive lab equipment.
I hope smartphones can be adapted to detect other parasitic diseases too.


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A publishing professional is living the risk-taking lifestyle and hoping to reap the rewards with a men's magazine set to launch this fall that espouses such behavior.
“It's not a gambling magazine, it's a magazine for people who gamble in life,” said Brett Garfinkel, founder, CEO and publisher of JAQK, New York. Garfinkel previously held positions with publishers such as Wenner Media, Meredith Corp. and Conde Nast.
With the subtitle No Risk, No Reward, JAQK — short for Jack, Ace, Queen, King — hopes to tap into the psyche of the 7.6 million men who fit its target demographic: 25- to 44-year-olds with an income exceeding $100,000.
Though the magazine's target includes guys who enjoy gambling at casinos, it goes beyond that. It includes males who place friendly wagers on everything from rounds of golf and fantasy sports leagues to sporting events on television.
“Guys have a competitive nature,” Garfinkel said. “No one likes to watch a game between the two worst teams in the division. They want to see the game that has meaning. That's where the betting comes in.
“Whether it's the thrill of the stock market or real estate market or starting their own company, these guys are risk-takers.”
As the former luxury director at Wenner Media publication Men's Journal, Garfinkel claims the magazine market underserves the demographic he is targeting.
His marketing director echoed his sentiments.
“We're creating a magazine for readers that don't have anything else,” said Debbie Fink, vice president of marketing at JAQK. “They're not really reading GQ or Details or Men's Journal.”
So, the next step is reaching this supposedly untapped market. To do that, JAQK will conduct direct mail and e-mail campaigns along with other efforts. These campaigns will begin in the early fall to coincide with the magazine's expected debut.
Direct mailings will include a free copy of the premier issue while the e-mailings will have a viral element, though specifics have not been decided, Fink said.
They intend to mail 750,000 copies of the first issue in September and 750,000 of the second issue, tentatively scheduled for December, she said. Also, 200,000 copies will be available on newsstands.
Though no postal or e-mail files have been ordered yet, Garfinkel and Fink have definite ideas about what files will work.
“We asked ourselves, 'Who are the guys that live this lifestyle, and what do they read?'” Garfinkel said.
Investment bankers came to mind first, he said, because they take risks in business for a living and don't slow down on weekends. So the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily and Institutional Investor seem like good lists to use, he said.
Other prime targets for JAQK would be producers, talent scouts and agents, making the Hollywood Reporter and Variety possibilities.
“We're looking at more business titles over consumer publication lists,” Fink said. “There's no magazine that's really suited to the needs of our target audience, so to rent consumer magazine lists isn't necessarily going to get us to the right person.”
Still, the largest source of names for the initial mailings will be the partnerships the publication has forged with casinos and health clubs.
Though Fink would not name them specifically, she said JAQK is in talks with select casinos to send the magazine to men in their databases who match the demographics of its target audience. JAQK also has a deal with Fitness Venture Group, which owns several health club chains, to mail the magazine to gym members.
As an incentive for subscribing, charter readers of JAQK will get a JAQK loyalty card entitling them to monthly discounts or perks at places like golf courses, restaurants, spas and other types of businesses. Current deals will be listed in each issue of the magazine.
“The card will offer hundreds of dollars in savings for just the charter rate of $12.99 during the first two issues,” Fink said.
As for advertising, Garfinkel claims several luxury goods marketers are close to signing on for the first issue.
“Luxury advertisers are lukewarm about most men's magazines but they are very excited about JAQK,” he said.
He predicts a circulation of about 300,000 by March when he plans to take JAQK bimonthly.
Of his odds on succeeding with JAQK, Garfinkel said, “We feel like we hold four aces right now.”


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The study, based on a sample of 25 of the most reviewed cities in the world, analysed data including the number of reviews, management responses to reviews, photos and videos from hotel pages to reveal which factors have the greatest influence on travellers, leading to booking enquiries.
With over 170 million reviews and 280 million unique visitors to its website, TripAdvisor is a huge player in the travel and hospitality industry. Debunking somewhat the myth that reviews have the ultimate influence, this new study shows for the very first time that photos actually have the biggest impact on traveller engagement.
Seeing is believing
53% of TripAdvisor users won’t book a hotel that has no reviews, but it seems photos have an even more powerful influence, not only in terms of generating traveller engagement but more importantly in generating booking enquiries.
These findings make sense, since one would assume a traveller spends more time looking at photos and videos on a hotel page if there are more photos to begin with. What’s even more interesting is to find out this actually leads to more booking enquiries!
Reviews still matter
While photos play an increasingly important role in the decision-making process, reviews remain as important as ever and, perhaps even more so for hoteliers, responding to reviews is crucial.
Original article by FREDERIC GONZALO – speaker, blogger and consultant, specialising in marketing, social media and e-tourism


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This week, Walmart held its seventh annual Supplier Growth Forum as a virtual event in place of the usual in-person gathering that typically takes place in Rogers, Arkansas. Amid the yearly updates on the retail giant’s strategic initiatives, key focus areas, future growth strategies, Walmart issues its Supplier of the year Awards to leading suppliers in each major product category.
Moose Toys scored the top honor as the 2020 Walmart Toy Supplier of the Year.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized with this award by Walmart who continues to be one of our most valued global partners,” says Glenn Abell, president, Moose Toys USA. “Moose first received Walmart’s Toy Supplier of the Year award in 2015, and I am so proud of the hard work and dedication that has put Moose in a position to be recognized again as Toy Supplier of the Year for 2020.”
Last year, Moose secured placement for several growing lines within Walmart toy departments at a time when the U.S. toy industry grew at a record pace.
“We have our strongest lineup yet for 2021 across our most popular brands, including Squeakee, Heroes of Goo Jit Zu, Treasure X, Kindi Kids, Bluey, and more, as well as exciting new introductions,” Abell says. “We look forward to continued momentum this year. Most of all, this is a recognition of the tremendous partnership between the Walmart merchant team and Moose staff in Bentonville who are supported by so many talented colleagues in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Melbourne.”
Moose Toys’ latest products are hitting stores now, including the new Real Littles line, Kindi Kids Minis, Squeakee Minis, and more.


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10 years from now, we’ll still be on top…I thought I told you that we won’t stop’ – (Diddy on ‘Mo’ money, mo’ problems’, 1997)
Well, it is way over 10 years, precisely 15 years now, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is still on top as he has been announced by Forbes.com as the wealthiest rapper alive, beating big players like Jay Z, Baby and 50 Cent.
Diddy according to Forbes hit the number one spot with a networth of $500m (N78b) – with business ventures in his ‘Sean John clothing line, Ciroc Vodka (which was aided by the new Peach flavor), the marketing firm Blue Flame and his newly-signed deal with Comcast for his very own cable channel, Revolt, which is set to launch next year’.
Financial experts say if Diddy successfully acquires and develops Revolt, he might just be on his way to the $1b mark.
Brooklyn rapper and entrepreneur Sean ‘Jay Z’ Carter falls second place with $460 million, producer Dr. Dre with $270 million, Cash Money C.E.O Baby with $125m and rapper 50 Cent with $100m.


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DALLAS, Texas – February 10, 2017 – Matthews Real Estate Investment Services™, the fastest growing midsize company in commercial real estate, announced it has expanded the firm’s national reach into the prestigious Preston Center Submarket of Dallas. Building upon the firm’s success in California with established offices in Costa Mesa and El Segundo, the new office space officially opened this month.
“Due to the significant growth of the company, expansion was inevitable” said Kyle Matthews, Chairman and CEO. “We are doing a monumental amount of business in Texas and the Southeastern U.S., so Dallas was the most logical location to plant the next of many flags for Matthews.” The firm plans to grow it’s Dallas platform with a variety of new hires recruited locally in Texas and throughout the country, further positioning the company for the next phase of growth.
Chad Kurz, SVP and National Director of STNL for Matthews™ is set to head the Dallas office and further bring to life the firms aggressive business plan. “Texas is rich with talent to advance both our investment sales and marketing platforms and continue to offer our clients the most innovative technology and best service in commercial real estate” said Kurz. “In addition, Texas is globally connected and centrally located for deal making throughout the country.”
The new office is strategically located in one of the city’s most sought-after areas at 8300 Douglas, on the northeast corner of Douglas Avenue and Luther Lane. The properties elite location offers easy access to Dallas’ major business centers and bloodlines.
About Matthews Real Estate Investment Services:
Matthews Real Estate Investment Services™ is the nation’s fastest growing commercial real estate firm, ranked #1 in annual retail sales and recognized as an industry leader in shopping center, STNL, Multifamily, portfolio disposition and 1031 Exchange transactions. The firm is headquartered in El Segundo, CA and serves clients throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, please visit www.matthews.com.
Recent Media & Thought Leadership


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Drive in anxious and cruise out confident with the best automotive information for your vehicle! Tune in to KTAR News 92.3 every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon as Matt Allen helps listeners with their car problems. The show call in number is 602-277-5827.
BETHESDA, Md., June 10, 2014 -- With the hot summer temperatures on the rise, knowing the symptoms of a sick cooling system are critical to your summer driving plans, since cooling system failure is a leading cause of vehicle breakdowns. The most noticeable symptoms are overheating, leaks, a sweet smell of antifreeze and repeatedly needing to add coolant, according to the Car Care Council.
"Neglecting your cooling system can result in serious damage and even complete engine failure, which would put a sudden end to your summer road trip," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. "If the cooling system doesn't receive regular maintenance, it's not a question of whether it will fail, but rather when it will fail. Performing regular checkups of belts, hoses, the water pump and fluids will ensure your car remains properly cooled and healthy for many miles down the road."
CARSON, Calif., June 10, 2014 -- Most consumers (83%) continue to 'feel' overcharged in the auto repair process and rank the experience of going to the repair shop/dealership to get their car repaired on a par with going to the dentist (with women preferring the dentist), according to a new consumer survey from AutoMD.com.
BETHESDA, Md., May 20, 2014 -- If your summer vacation plans include a road trip, the last thing you want is to have unexpected car trouble to leave you stranded at the side of the road, ruining all the fun. A pre-trip vehicle check is the best way to be car care aware and ensure that your car is ready to get you to your destination, says the non-profit Car Care Council.
The Car Care Council recommends the following pre-trip checklist before hitting the road this summer:
WORCESTER, MA, May 16, 2014 -- Do you know if your car has any open manufacturer issued safety recalls? Amazingly one-third of all vehicles recalled by automakers are never brought to dealers. The reasons people don't take advantage of these repairs range from not being aware of the recall to not having the time to give up the car to make a repair.
If your car seems to be running smoothly, a safety recall may seem to be an inconvenience but there are good reasons to get a defective part fixed as soon as you can. First and foremost is safety, for you and your family. Recent research from the Highway Loss Data Institute found that repairing recalled vehicles reduces "dangerous incidents" for drivers. The study looked at non-crash fire claims and found fewer insurance claims for those who made a recall required repair.
The Bumper to Bumper Radio preferred Shop members teamed up again for a record breaking effort by raising over $9,400 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital this year in conjunction with KTAR’s record breaking drive of over 1.1 million for the 2013 KTAR Give-A-Thon!


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“Fast N’ Loud” host Richard Rawlings has found what he calls the car industry’s “Holy Grail” — the first two Pontiac Firebirds ever built, the New York Post reports.
Called simply “#1” and “#2,” the prototypes were manufactured by Pontiac engineers and were used as models for the 1967 Firebird, which revolutionized the world of sporty “muscle cars” when it rolled off the assembly line.
“We found the cars in a garage in Connecticut,” says Rawlings. “They were in a dilapidated barn and are the very first Firebirds . . . they were hand-made . . . and were used by GM to decide if they wanted to build the Firebird.”
Discovery will devote the April 21 and April 28 episodes of “Fast N’ Loud” to Rawlings’ find, showing how he and his crew, including Aaron Kaufman, restored both cars, which were purchased for a combined $65,000 and sold for $650,000 (after each car underwent $200,000 worth of restoration).
Rawlings says he learned about the Firebirds after selling a “pretty rare Corvette” to a client.
“I always have a habit of asking, ‘Do you have anything you want to sell?’ He told me he heard a story about a guy a couple of towns over who was supposed to have the [Firebirds],” he says. “A lot of times it turns out to be a ghost story — a ‘cool car’ turns out to be a four-door Nova.”


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With their entrepreneurship and innovation, smaller companies have exited the Covid pandemic stronger than before, gaining market share and pricing power, and many now lead in the area of sustainability. As the painter Vincent Van Gogh expressed it: ‘Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.’
In emerging economies, small and medium-sized enterprises have a particularly important role to play. There, they represent approximately 90% of businesses, provide more than 50% of employment and contribute around 40% to GDP[i].
June 27th is the UN’s dedicated micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) day, to highlight and further encourage the contribution made by SMEs to sustainable development. Currently, engagement with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) by smaller companies is more limited than it could be.
Reasons for this may include: the ‘small-cap syndrome’ that leads smaller-scale companies to believe they are not in a position to drive change. Due to limited resources, they may lack awareness, both of their positive contribution and of their footprint. It can also be challenging to bring in impact initiatives because of the overwhelming amount of information available, the plethora of disclosure mechanisms and lack of uniformity across different regions.
However, the very nature of smaller companies means they have the potential to quickly transform into leaders in the field of sustainability. As businesses, they tend to be more agile and adaptable than their larger peers, allowing them to adjust quickly to global developments. They are closer to stakeholders and local communities and the research suggests that they tend to listen more openly to the needs of their employees and the local communities around corporate social responsibility[ii]. As investors in small-cap companies, we are focused on finding the businesses that are already making a difference.
Founder and family-run firms often have a unique connection with local communities and actively support their wellbeing. Take, for example, the Italian luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli. In Umbria, the company is a key employer and it places substantial importance on addressing local needs by recruiting locally and engaging with suppliers and various institutions. This means it aligns with sustainable development goal number eight (for decent work and economic growth). The company provides opportunities for young people to work and advance in the business. It established the School of Arts and Crafts in Solomeo, which pays students a monthly wage.[iii]
Another interesting, founder-run example is Dermapharm, a leading German manufacturer in generic (patent-free) branded pharmaceuticals. The business has five core segments: dermatologics, systemic corticoids, women’s healthcare, ophthalmologic products and vitamins. It is focused on providing affordable medicines to patients, so it aligns with SDG three (good health and wellbeing).
In the area of water conservation and green energy, the SME Kornit comes to mind. Kornit is an Israeli company leading in the digital transformation of textile printing. Digital printing has many environmental and economic benefits over traditional analogue printing – reducing water usage, water waste and carbon emissions. The company is also using more eco-friendly dyes. Radical change is needed in the textile and fashion industry (figs here around CO2 and waste) and Kornit recognises how it can lead the transition. By 2026, Kornit aims to enable around 2.5bn items of clothing to be produced in a responsible manner, saving 4.3 trillion litres of water and 17.2 bn kgs of greenhouse gas emissions. The company is clearly aligned to SDG six (water and sanitation).
Achieving the objectives of the SDGs will require a huge amount of financing and investing, with World Bank estimates at over US$ 80 trillion and US$ 200 trillion.[iv] As a result, investors have an important role to play by providing access to financial services and credit, and by investing in assets best-placed to benefit from the sustainable economy and the transition towards a net zero world.
All of the companies mentioned, despite their smaller size, lead in their industries. They aim to be future-proof and they recognise the importance of conducting business responsibly and sustainably. Smaller companies are making a difference and have an important role to play in supporting the SDG goals and the sustainability agenda. Great things can indeed be achieved are by a series of small things brought together.


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Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Nigeria’s premier sports marketing organization which aims to promote sports from the grassroots to international level in Africa has brokered a brand endorsement deal between PremiumTrust Bank and representatives of globally renowned Nigerian athletes, Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume, as the face of the PremiumTrust brand across all traditional and digital media platforms.
PremiumTrust Bank Unveils Amusan, Brume As Brand Ambassadors
This indeed was a worthy stride for PremiumTrust Bank that continues to go to great lengths in finding ways to improve and develop lives through sports. Making the announcement, Mr. Ebidowei Oweifie, the Chief Operating Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Limited said: “Since inception, PremiumTrust Bank has shown dogged determination to athletics and Nigerian athletes. We are honoured to have brokered this partnership between these three ‘premium’ brands.
“On the one hand, we have Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume whose performances at the recently concluded World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games has shown the world the grit Nigerian athletes are made of, on the other hand, PremiumTrust Bank, a bank committed to growth, we are confident that this partnership is perfectly aligned.”


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Southeast Asian countries are seen to benefit in terms of manufacturing investments amid the ongoing friction between China and the United States, according to think tank Oxford Economics last month.
|The demand for shipping containers has declined amid the peak season, photo: Le Toan |
In its research, Oxford Economics said it expects Southeast Asian countries to be a key beneficiary as firms continue to adjust and diversify some production away from China.
“The region is already well established in global and regional supply chains. And it looks set to remain an attractive destination for export-orientated foreign direct investment (FDI) given its labour dynamics, improving quality of infrastructure, and openness to trade,” Oxford Economics said.
In particular, it added that the share of Southeast Asian economies such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam (or ASEAN-6) in global inward FDI averaged around 11 per cent over the past five years, up from 6 per cent over 2012-2017.
The report noted that ASEAN has benefited from trade decoupling between the US and China which started after the US raised tariffs on Chinese imports in 2018.
While China remains the US’ biggest supplier of imported goods, its share dropped to 17 per cent in the first half of the year from about 21 per cent. China’s share of US electronics imports is also down by 5.5 percentage points.
While ASEAN is expected to become an increasing source of global manufacturing and exports, breaking the global and regional dependence on China could require a significant drop in the reliance on backward integration with the Chinese industry.
Reducing dependence on China is deemed easier for some products such as furniture, clothing, and household goods which are labour-intensive. But for other products, China is seen to remain a key manufacturing hub.
“To compete more broadly with China as a production base, ASEAN will need a much larger increase in investment, both foreign and domestic,” Oxford Economics said.
Even with rising labour costs, it said China would still be an attractive destination for FDI given its higher quality of infrastructure and large and skilled labour force. As such, firms are still likely to adopt a China+1 strategy and reduce dependence on China only marginally.
This shift of Asian economies making gains in manufacturing was noted by Takehiko Nakao, chairman of the Mizuho Research Institute and former president of the Asian Development Bank. He said that industrialisation, technological development, demographic dividend, and globalisation have driven Asia’s rise.
“There is no such thing as an Asian consensus but effective policies, strong institutions, governments’ decisiveness in introducing reforms, an ability to learn, and a clear vision for the future often championed by forward-looking leaders have mattered,” said Nakao.
Decoupling supply chains
While diversification is still clearly on the agenda of many major players, recent research has demonstrated that it is easier said than done.
Last month, a Bloomberg Intelligence report estimated it would take about eight years to move just 10 per cent of Apple’s production capacity out of China, where roughly 98 per cent of the company’s iPhones have been made. Scores of local component suppliers – not to mention modern and efficient transport, communication, and electricity supplies – make it particularly difficult to get out of the world’s second-largest economy.
“With China accounting for 70 per cent of global smartphone manufacturing and leading Chinese vendors accounting for nearly half of global shipments, the region has a well-developed supply chain, which will be tough to replicate – and one Apple could lose access to if it moves,” the report said.
Bloomberg Intelligence said that overall tech industry dependence could be reduced by up to 40 per cent “in most cases” by 2030. Hardware and electronic manufacturers could reduce their reliance on the Chinese market to as much as 30 per cent over the next decade.
While Amazon, HP, Microsoft, Cisco, and Dell depend on China to produce hardware for servers, storage, and networking products, the report added that the extent of their dependence is far below that of Apple.
“Decoupling supply chains can be difficult,” says Steven Tseng, senior technology analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “The dominance of Chinese companies in smartphones, chips, and the wider electronics manufacturing services sector poses a particular challenge should the US take action to reduce its dependence on Chinese supply chains. With US market juggernauts like Apple relying almost exclusively on China for its manufacturing and assembly, the path to a decoupling of the two countries’ supply chains would be long and arduous.”
Deciding how to deal with operations in China is now made more complex with the events occurring in Europe and Russia.
Divam Sharma, founder of Green Portfolio, noted that the China+1 model gave the EU, Mexico, Taiwan, and Vietnam a boost because companies began investing in these alternate locations. India was also at an advantage since multinationals started investing in emerging countries and India was a viable option because of its low production cost and favourable business environment.
But there are fears that companies might start to disinvest across Europe because of poor gas supply, Sharma said. “This may cause blackouts and shortages all through winter and factory shutdowns. This will eventually lead to lower production and supply chain disruptions thus causing losses for companies with manufacturing units across Europe.”
Many big chemical players have confirmed that they have already started experiencing a hit, and plants are running at low capacity in Europe.
All in all, Europe began to record record-high inflation at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. The permanent shutting off of Nord Stream 1 has exacerbated the problem. Thus, high gas prices and inflation all across Europe might scare off investors, possible meaning an advantage for the likes of Vietnam and India if investors are sufficiently attracted towards investing there instead, Sharma concluded.
Pros and cons
As well as in tech and oil and gas, other sectors are seeing major shifts due to China’s ongoing tussle with the coronavirus pandemic.
The demand for shipping containers has declined amid the peak season. August alone saw a 36 per cent increase in average container prices and 21 per cent increase in one-way leasing rates in Southeast Asian countries, according to Hellenic Shipping News.
This trend of rising container prices and leasing rates validates the strategy of China+1 by companies as the demand for containers rises in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, among other South Asian countries, it added.
Christian Roeloffs, co-founder and CEO of Container xChange, said, “The growth of containerised trade in Southeast Asia indicates a favourable trade environment for shippers and exporters in the region. For global container shipping companies that are looking to diversify their cargo trade lanes from linear to more diversified routes, countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore are emerging as strong contenders, more so for a China+1 strategy in the long term.”
One area that could be holding back Southeast Asian nations, and India, from capitalising is the lack of research and development (R&D) activities.
Vishal Chaudhary, co-founder of Zetwerk, last month noted that China’s contribution to R&D spending was 2 per cent 25 years back, and it has gone to 27 per cent in 20 years. “But India’s has only moved from 1.8 to 2.9 per cent in the same period. So, how do countries like India expect to compete with China when the R&D spending is not there? This is where countries like Germany and Japan have invested in developing those technologies,” he said.
But in the context of global supply chain woes and geopolitical tensions between China and the US, Vietnam is still drawing increased interest for its potential to develop further as an international trading and manufacturing hub. Canadian-born Marina Tran Vu, founder of Vietnam-based sustainable startup brand Equo, thinks China+1 is still going strong. In April, Equo raised $1.3 million in seed funding from NextGenVentures, East Ventures, and others.
“I think people are looking outside that powerhouse of a country for other opportunities. Vietnam just seems like a natural ‘next in line’ country based on the same sort of trajectory,” she said.
Agreeing with that sentiment are John Walsh, director of English at Krirk University Thailand and Trung Quang Nguyen, head of Management at RMIT University Vietnam. Writing for the East Asia Forum last month, the pair noted that Vietnam’s consistent efforts to provide a safe and welcoming environment for foreign business, through the likes of special economic zones, ensure that companies have access to a local workforce in favourable conditions.
“Vietnam’s connectivity with other countries stems from its willingness to become a more active global citizen. Despite starting the connectivity process later than its ASEAN neighbours, Vietnam is catching up with its regional peers in the number of free trade agreements it has signed – the country has joined about every bilateral, multilateral, and transnational organisation and agreement for which it is eligible,” they wrote.
Despite Vietnam’s success in attracting investment, the pair added, it faces competition. Countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Bangladesh also have large labour forces - offering them competitiveness through low labour costs, they warned.
| ||Vietnam stands to win as “China+1” gains traction |
Changes in the global supply chain are taking place due to the virus outbreak, prompting a mounting number of foreign manufacturers to speed up their relocation from China to neighbouring countries including Vietnam.
| ||China to fine ride-hailing giant Didi more than $1 bn: reports |
China is preparing to hit ride-hailing giant Didi with a fine of more than $1 billion to wrap up a long-running probe, media reports said, boosting investor hopes that the country's tech crackdown is winding down.


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- This week, KFC changed tune on its earlier stand on using only imported potatoes for chips consumed in the country
- Kenyan farmers have been pushing the American fast food chain to share the quality standards of the potatoes it uses
- But the firm declined to disclose those standards in a move set to lock out hundreds of potato farmers interested in the supplies contract
Kentucky Fried Chicken popularly known by its acronym KFC has declined to tell Kenyan farmers standards of potatoes needed for the business.
Kenyan farmers have been pushing the American fast food retail giant to share the quality standards that Kenyans wishing to supply it with potatoes must meet due to proprietary restrictions.
Disclosure of proprietary information
Business Daily reported the the food chain made it clear it could not disclose such information.
Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through firstname.lastname@example.org or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
“We do not disclose proprietary information around sourcing and pricing,” the firm said in a statement.
This week, KFC changed tune on its earlier stand on using only imported potatoes for chips, saying Kenyan farmers can supply so long as they meet their global quality and safety specifications.
KFC changed tune on its position following public outrage that lasted more than 24 hours on various social media platforms.
But the firm declined to disclose those standards in a move set to lock out hundreds of potato farmers interested in the supplies contract.
Identifying a local supplier
The firm added that in as much as their frozen chips are currently imported into Kenya, they have been on a journey to identifying a local supplier that has the processing, tracking and cold chain management capability to supply it with chips.
As recently reported by TUKO.co.ke, KFC indicated that plans were underway to source locally-produced potatoes for its French fries.
KFC Kenyan chief executive officer Jacques Theunissen said although Kenyan traders currently supply them with poultry, fresh vegetables, flour and ice cream among others, they will soon work with potato farmers.
"Although we currently import our French fries, there is an opportunity to source the potatoes from a local supplier that meets the global KFC quality and safety specifications in the near future," Theunissen stated on Tuesday, January 4.
Kenyans express vent anger on KFC
Theunissen was reacting to angry Kenyans who expressed their displeasure after the American fast-food restaurant chain disclosed it had run short of potatoes to make fries.
KFC attributed to an influx in the fries' orders during the December holiday and post-New Year’s celebrations.
Taking to social media, the company apologised to its esteemed customers saying its team was working to resolve the issue.


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Former President Donald Trump claims to be a shrewd investor and businessman. However, his tax returns show that he sold stock in Apple and Microsoft way too early, missing out on millions of dollars.
According to his 2017 tax returns, Trump and his wife Melania sold stock in six companies in early 2017, including tech giants Apple and Microsoft.
As the charts below show, both tech stocks rose sharply after 2017 and peaked in 2021-22. While both companies have seen their valuation fall recently, both are still well above the price at which the Trumps sold.
Both technology stocks were bought by the Trumps in October 2013 and both rose significantly. Apple stock was bought for $481,505 and sold for $833,118, yielding $351,613, a 73 percent gain. Microsoft stock was bought for $248,867, sold in 2017 for $464,558, and earned the Trumps $215,691, an 87 percent gain.
If they had held on though, both stock holdings would have been much higher.
An investment of $481,500 in Apple stock in 2013 would now be worth $4,150,000, yielding a total profit of $3,669,000. If Trump had kept his Microsoft shares, they would be worth just under $2 million right now.
If they sold today, the Trumps would have earned more than $5 million in proceeds.
This does not take into account the peak prices of either stock. The Trumps could have sold the Apple stock for about $5.1 million in early January 2022, and the Microsoft stock for $2.5 million in November 2021, yielding a potential profit of more than $7 million if dividends are included .
Trump tax return
The House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee released six years of the former president’s tax returns at the end of 2022, leading to further dissection of Trump’s financial affairs. The tax returns showed that Joe Biden had paid $4.1 million more in federal taxes than Trump over the six-year period, while the records showed that Trump had several foreign bank accounts during his time in the White House.
In a statement sent to News week and published on his campaign website, Trump warned that House Democrats “should never have published” the tax data and that the U.S. Supreme Court “should never have approved it.”
The statement continued: “‘Trump’s’ tax returns show once again how proudly successful I have been”.
The 2017 document (in the bundle ‘Appendix E’, file Form 1040 2017-1.pdf), a joint individual tax return for Donald Trump and Melania Trump, shows the Trumps sold stock in seven companies, most of which were bought sometime in 2013 and sold in 2017.
The stock’s net income over those 4 years was a pretty impressive $642,000, from an initial investment of $1.36 million, a 47 percent return. By comparison, the S&P 500 rose about 32 percent over the same period.
Trump claimed in 2014 that he had sold his Apple holdings, saying on Twitter that:
“I predicted Apple’s stock market drop based on their stupid refusal to give the option of a bigger iPhone screen like Samsung. I sold my Apple stock”
However, there is no evidence of any sales of Apple stock in 2014 in the tax returns released by the commission. The 2017 tax returns show that the Trumps did not sell until January 2017.
The tech news website CNET reported in 2016 that Trump owned “millions” in Apple stock, according to a financial disclosure document Trump released before the 2016 election. However, that document shows that his Apple holdings are worth between $500,000 and $1 million, which is consistent with his 2017 tax return.
News week contacted the Trump office for comment, but received no response at time of publication.


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The Soft Drinks Industry Levy is coming into force in the UK, and data from other countries suggest it may not be the best solution.
The UK is the most obese country in Western Europe, and the sixth most obese country in the world. Around 26.9% of the British population has a body mass index of 30 and above, according to an OECD report and the cost of treating ill health caused by obesity and related issues is rising fast. The costs have increased by 92% since the 1990s, which illustrates the scale of the public health challenge.. The World Obesity Forum predicts that unless effective action is taken, the cost of treating ill health caused by obesity in the UK will rise from $19bn to $31bn per year in 2025.
The government, long criticized for taking no action to tackle this issue, decided to introduce a Soft Drinks Industry Levy, in the hope that the increased cost will stop people from buying soft drinks as often, and therefore they will be consuming less sugar. The manufacturers of soft drinks will be taxed on the volume they produce or import. The new tax could increase the cost of a two liter bottle of Coca-Cola (10.6g per 100ml) by as much as 48p if the plans go ahead as announced and the drinks giant does not alter its recipe. The money raised as part of the levy is supposed to go to the Department for Education to be used to fund sports in primary schools.
Several countries around the world have already introduced similar measures, attempting to curb the appetite for sugar. This includes France, Mexico, Hungary, and Norway, amongst others. While initially they have seen some success in reducing the consumption of fizzy drinks, the data from the NCDRisC project shows that the average BMI and obesity prevalence increased or remained static in these countries in the long term.
Despite the strong opposition from soft drink lobby groups, the tax comes into force in April 2018. While the drinks industry claims there is no evidence that sugar tax leads to lower consumption and warns it may cause loss of a significant number of jobs hitting the poor hardest, health campaigners demand it should be extended to cover all chocolate, sweets and other confectionery containing the highest levels of sugar.
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Time will show if the new tax is going to cause the desired effect in the UK. In some ways it is already working, before it has even begun. The April 2018 UK tax deadline is already forcing manufacturers to reformulate drinks to come in below the sugar tax threshold and introducing new drinks with less sugar content.
However, as the taste of sugar is naturally addictive, those habits are hard to break. Consumers may simply adjust to paying more for it, find cheaper substitutes to the taxed product to “satisfy their sweet tooth” or just choose cheaper brands of the same product, meaning their intake of calories remains the same as before the tax.