Bird watching is a very popular leisure activity around the world, and Europeans are enthusiastic birders who are keen to travel abroad to view species they’ve never seen before. Africa, Asia and Central/South America are all excellent destinations for bird watching holidays, and of the 10,000+ species in the world today, iconic and well-known species are a valuable tourism asset for many countries.

Wildlife tourism is popular amongst European travellers – especially travellers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands – and visiting wildlife attractions is often a highlight of a broader adventure trip. Africa is one of the world’s leading destinations for safaris, home to many iconic species. However, conservation of wildlife and their habitats has become a global issue and the European market is increasingly sensitive to the welfare of animals.

As consumers spend more time at home, they look for comfortable clothing items that can be worn around the house. Nevertheless, the European market for homewear (bathrobes and sleepwear) fell back to 2016 levels in 2020. Europe sources most of its homewear imports directly from developing countries. The mid-end and high-end market segments offer you the best opportunities. To supply these segments, you need to focus on design and quality. Using sustainable materials and the ability to co-create with your buyer can give you a competitive edge.

Easy chairs play a key role in the ‘home sweet home’ trend, where consumers retreat into the comfort and cosiness of their home. While the COVID-19 pandemic hurt international trade, lockdowns further boosted this trend. As a result, the negative impact of the pandemic on European imports of seats has been limited. The share of developing counties in the direct import market has remained fairly stable at around 40%. This makes Europe an interesting market for you, particularly the mid-end to high-end segments.

European imports of decorative objects have grown considerably in recent years. With most imports coming directly from developing countries, Europe is an interesting market for you — especially the middle to high-end segments. To target these segments, you should pay particular attention to design, artisanry and the story behind your products. Elements such as functionality, humour, collectability and cultural touches can add value to your decorative objects. Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important.

This report shows the most important European trends in the food and non-food industry for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. From interviews with experts, it is clear that COVID-19 increased the need for professionalism in developing countries. Buyers now select products in a different way. And the requirements they have for suppliers are much higher than before. To meet the new standards, suppliers in developing countries need to increase quality in many areas of their business. Collaborating with partners is very important.

This report shows the most important European trends in the Home Decoration and Home Textile (HDHT) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. From interviews with experts, it is clear that COVID-19 increased the need for professionalism in developing countries. Buyers now select products in a different way. And the requirements they have for suppliers are much higher than before. To meet the new standards, suppliers in developing countries need to increase quality in many areas of their business. Collaborating with partners is very important.

Pangasius has a large market demand in Northwestern European retail. The product is appreciated by consumers for its neutral taste and easiness to prepare. Pangasius has faced some difficulties with its image towards European consumers on food safety, but the tide is changing. Furthermore, COVID-19 has led to an increase in retail sales, benefiting pangasius as well. With consumers demanding prepacked seafood products, there is an opportunity for pangasius to increase its market share.

Fresh tuna is considered a premium product in Europe, with strong demand coming from Southern Europe and a growing demand from trading nations in Northwestern Europe. Fresh tuna is mostly sold in high-level supermarkets or consumed in Asian restaurants and specialized fish and seafood restaurants. As fresh tuna is a high-value product, meeting safety and quality requirements is a must, along with providing a catch certificate. Ensuring your tuna is sustainable and traceable also offers you a strong advantage to enter the European market.