In this month’s instalment of our visual series on topical data themes, we look at the steep increase in deliveries, the continued deforestation of the Amazon rainforest and the rise of COVID-19 in Europe.

Does Amazon deliver more packages than FedEx?

Once upon a time, we went to the shops to buy things. However, the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns forced us to spend more time at home, accelerating an already growing trend: buying online.

This has translated to an explosion of parcel deliveries. According to the Parcel Shipping Index,1 4,160 parcels were shipped every second in 2020 – equivalent to 34 parcels per person over the year. The US generated the highest carrier revenue, with Amazon the third largest US package courier, ahead of FedEx and rivalling UPS (Figure 1).

Figure 1: US package shipments (billion packages)2
US package shipments
Source: Quartz, October 23, 2021

Amazon used to rely heavily on both companies to deliver its packages. But after an episode that saw delivery services failing to keep up with the torrent of gifts US shoppers ordered during the holiday season in 2013, the company decided to build its own shipping logistics.

Analysts also expect Amazon to launch a standalone delivery service to compete with UPS and FedEx.3

Deforestation in the Amazon

During the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, over 100 world leaders pledged to end deforestation by 2030. Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest – the Earth’s largest tropical forest and an important carbon sink – was among the signatories.  

Deforestation hit a 12-year high in 2020

But where are we now? Figure 2 shows deforestation has picked up again in the Amazon in the past few years, hitting a 12-year high in 2020. Worse still, it is on an upward trajectory this year: so getting Brazil to follow through on its COP26 commitments will be vital.

Figure 2: Deforestation (January 2009-October 2021, sq km)4
Source: Amazon Monitoring, October 2021
Figure 3: Amazon deforestation detected in recent administrations’ first 30 months (sq km)5
Note: Deforestation registered under INPE’s DETER system for the first 30 months of three recent administrations. Rousseff’s second term is combined with Temer’s administration.
Source: Amazon Monitoring, October 2021
Deforestation has surged since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019

Figure 3 shows how deforestation has surged since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. Following international criticism, ahead of the annual burning season in June and as Europe threatened to tear up a trade deal with South America, Bolsonaro issued a 120-day ban on unauthorised outdoor fires and mobilised the military to stop deforestation.7

Such actions will be seen as token gestures, however, unless firmer measures are taken to arrest the pace of deforestation.

Is Europe once again the epicentre of the pandemic?

As European countries have lifted preventive measures that were implemented to stop the spread of COVID-19, the region once again finds itself at the centre of the pandemic, facing a dramatic increase in infections and deaths (see Figure 4). Bulgaria and Romania (the two eastern European countries with the lowest vaccination rates) recently reported their highest daily COVID-19 death tolls since the beginning of the pandemic.

 The World Health Organisation said 500,000 more deaths are forecast by February

The Dutch government decided to reintroduce tougher social restrictions from November 6, making mask-wearing obligatory in public spaces such as shops and COVID passes mandatory for museums and other public spaces.

But what does this mean for economies and markets? The World Health Organisation said 500,000 more deaths are forecast by February. Will uncertainty translate into another turbulent period for investors?

Figure 4: Daily new confirmed deaths from COVID-19 (per million people)7
Daily new confirmed deaths from COVID-19
Note: 7-day rolling average.
Source: Our World in Data, data as of November 23, 2021

View our full monthly series

We take a visual approach to illustrate topical data themes in economies, markets and beyond.

Learn more

The Little Book of Data

A collection of visualised data showcasing a range of themes including data and technology, diversity and inclusion, and markets and economics all brought together in one book resulting in an expressive and stunning compilation. Reserve your copy of The Little Book of Data now.

Request your copy

Want more content like this?

Sign up to receive our AIQ thought leadership content.

Please enable javascript in your browser in order to see this content.

I acknowledge that I qualify as a professional client or institutional/qualified investor. By submitting these details, I confirm that I would like to receive thought leadership email updates from Aviva Investors, in addition to any other email subscription I may have with Aviva Investors. You can unsubscribe or tailor your email preferences at any time.

For more information, please visit our privacy notice.

Related views

Important information

THIS IS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION

Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (AIGSL). Unless stated otherwise any views and opinions are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any nature. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified by Aviva Investors and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested. Nothing in this material, including any references to specific securities, assets classes and financial markets is intended to or should be construed as advice or recommendations of any nature. Some data shown are hypothetical or projected and may not come to pass as stated due to changes in market conditions and are not guarantees of future outcomes. This material is not a recommendation to sell or purchase any investment.

The information contained herein is for general guidance only. It is the responsibility of any person or persons in possession of this information to inform themselves of, and to observe, all applicable laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it would be unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

In Europe, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Luxembourg S.A. Registered Office: 2 rue du Fort Bourbon, 1st Floor, 1249 Luxembourg. Supervised by Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. An Aviva company. In the UK, this document is by Aviva Investors Global Services Limited. Registered in England No. 1151805. Registered Office: 80 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AE. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Firm Reference No. 119178. In Switzerland, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Schweiz GmbH.

In Singapore, this material is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited (AIAPL) for distribution to institutional investors only. Please note that AIAPL does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this material. Recipients of this material are to contact AIAPL in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this material. AIAPL, a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore with registration number 200813519W, holds a valid Capital Markets Services Licence to carry out fund management activities issued under the Securities and Futures Act (Singapore Statute Cap. 289) and Asian Exempt Financial Adviser for the purposes of the Financial Advisers Act (Singapore Statute Cap.110). Registered Office: 138 Market Street, #05-01 CapitaGreen, Singapore 048946.

In Australia, this material is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd (AIPPL) for distribution to wholesale investors only. Please note that AIPPL does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this material. Recipients of this material are to contact AIPPL in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this material. AIPPL, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia with Australian Business No. 87 153 200 278 and Australian Company No. 153 200 278, holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL 411458) issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Business address: Level 27, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.

The name “Aviva Investors” as used in this material refers to the global organization of affiliated asset management businesses operating under the Aviva Investors name. Each Aviva investors’ affiliate is a subsidiary of Aviva plc, a publicly- traded multi-national financial services company headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Aviva Investors Canada, Inc. (“AIC”) is located in Toronto and is based within the North American region of the global organization of affiliated asset management businesses operating under the Aviva Investors name. AIC is registered with the Ontario Securities Commission as a commodity trading manager, exempt market dealer, portfolio manager and investment fund manager. AIC is also registered as an exempt market dealer and portfolio manager in each province of Canada and may also be registered as an investment fund manager in certain other applicable provinces.

Aviva Investors Americas LLC is a federally registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Aviva Investors Americas is also a commodity trading advisor (“CTA”) registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”). AIA’s Form ADV Part 2A, which provides background information about the firm and its business practices, is available upon written request to: Compliance Department, 225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2250, Chicago, IL 60606.