Operations and Business Environment - Fresenius Medical Care

Asia
While Japan’s gross domestic product grew by 2.7 %, its
economic growth slowed in the course of the year. This
development was due in part to the fact that the export
growth rate did not remain as strong, but primarily to
sinking public investments in conjunction with the
reduction of the state deficit. This was partially offset
by increasing private consumption and company investments.
China remained the most important growth region in
2006. Its gross domestic product increased by 10 %;
investments and exports continued to grow strongly.
Private spending increased, among other things,
because the yuan appreciated only slightly against the
U.S. dollar. The other East Asian countries grew by a
total of 5.2 %.
Latin America
The GDP growth in Latin America was 4.3 %, somewhat
higher than in the previous year. The reason for this
positive trend: as a raw materials producer and energy
provider, the region benefited from the high raw materials
prices and stable domestic demand. Monetary
conditions were positive, particularly in Mexico, which
provided economic momentum. Brazil, by contrast,
pursued a rigid consolidation policy and thus a rather
restrictive monetary policy – with negative effects on
the willingness to invest.
Further information can be found from page 65 onwards in
the “Comparison of the Actual Business Results with
Forecasts” section.
Gross Domestic Product
Expected change compared to previous year in % 2005 2006 2007
57
United States
Germany
Euro region
Great Britain
New EU member states
EU 27
Russia
Japan
East Asia
China and Hong Kong
Latin America
Worldwide
Source: Association of German Economic Research Institutes e.V. “The State of the World Economy and the German Economy”; Munich; Oct. 17, 2006
3.2
0.9
1.4
1.9
4.6
1.7
6.4
2.6
4.6
9.7
4.0
3.1
3.5
2.3
2.6
2.7
5.6
2.8
6.5
2.7
5.2
10.5
4.3
3.7
2.7
1.4
2.1
2.5
4.7
2.3
6.0
2.0
4.7
10.0
3.8
3.1
Fresenius Medical Care 2006