Welcome to yet another edition of Market Mosaic, where this week, we unpacked Instagram's three billion user milestone and what it means for social commerce, explored how the 430-fold internet pricing gap is creating distinct digital economies.

We also analysed China's battery manufacturing dominance as Korean giants operate at half capacity.

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— Insights Team, Rwazi

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Instagram's 3 billion user milestone signals growth for e-commerce

Instagram has crossed three billion monthly active users. And this will create unprecedented opportunities for merchants and brands seeking to reach global consumers.

This milestone reflects how billions of people now discover products, interact with brands, and make purchasing decisions in a visual, mobile-first world.

The acceleration has been extraordinary. From 1.5 billion users in 2020 to three billion in 2025, Instagram added 1.5 billion users in just five years. This rapid expansion was driven primarily by Reels, the short-form video feature launched in 2020 to compete with TikTok.

For merchants, Instagram is no longer simply a marketing channel; it has become a primary discovery and transaction platform where three billion consumers can engage with content, explore products, and make purchases. The integration of shopping features, creator partnerships, and sophisticated targeting means businesses of all sizes can access this massive pool of audience with precision.

US market dominance persists despite BRICS growth

Global equity market capitalisation shows the United States is maintaining overwhelming dominance at nearly seventy trillion dollars, dwarfing all other nations combined.

The US alone accounts for roughly sixty per cent of G7 market capitalisation and exceeds the combined value of all BRICS nations. China stands as the only meaningful challenger at 19.8 trillion dollars, yet this is less than one-third of the US market.

India has crossed five trillion dollars, marking its emergence as a significant BRICS growth engine and potential counterweight to Chinese dominance.

Beyond major blocs, the Rest of the World collectively accounts for 24.7 trillion dollars, showing that while power is concentrated, smaller markets matter in aggregate.

Countries like Taiwan at three trillion dollars, Switzerland at 2.6 trillion, and Saudi Arabia at 2.5 trillion have built substantial equity markets relative to their populations.

On internet pricing gap and the digital divide economics

Fixed internet costs vary globally, with UAE consumers paying 4.31 dollars per megabit per second while Romanian consumers enjoy connectivity at just 0.01 dollars per megabit.

Eastern European nations dominate affordability rankings. Romania's exceptionally low pricing shows aggressive infrastructure investment and strong provider competition. Russia at 0.02 dollars, Thailand at 0.02 dollars, and Poland at 0.03 dollars also show how policy choices can deliver affordable high-speed internet.

Major developed economies show mixed results. The US prices internet at 0.08 dollars per megabit, placing it mid-tier globally. France and Japan both price at 0.06 dollars, while South Korea at 0.05 dollars shows the impact of early government investment in fibre infrastructure.

Asia's emerging middle tier is noteworthy. India at 0.08 dollars, China at 0.05 dollars, and Vietnam at 0.04 dollars have achieved affordable access through massive infrastructure investment, unlocking enormous consumer markets and enabling the rise of domestic technology giants.

Chinese battery makers set to overtake South Korean giants

The global EV battery industry is experiencing a shift as Chinese manufacturers leverage cheaper lithium iron phosphate technology, massive scale, and state backing to overtake South Korean competitors who built dominance on expensive nickel-based chemistries.

South Korean battery giants including Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and SK On face a stark reality: their factories operate at 50% capacity while Chinese competitors maintain 90% utilisation.

Chinese manufacturers have aggressively pursued cost reduction through lithium iron phosphate technology, which offers lower energy density than nickel alternatives but compensates with significantly lower costs, improved safety, and longer cycle life.

South Korean companies are now scrambling to respond, with Samsung and SK On accelerating lithium iron phosphate production, targeting 2026 launches, but the timeline disadvantage is substantial.

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Before You Go…

Leaving already? Not so fast. Our published data stories are packed with the kind of actionable insights you will wish you’d seen sooner:

• Global retail takeover: how multinationals are dominating Latin America

• AI compute power: a new measure of global influence in 2025

• Why the $200 billion AI push fails to move smartphone buyers