Region all set to boost worldwide adspend in 2006

The ranking is topped by the USA, with an estimated US$5.9 billion more spent on ad placements in 2005 than in 2004 -- more than the combined extra adspend of the next four countries on the list, Brazil, Russia, China and India which are forecast to become dominant global economies by the middle of the century. ZenithOptimedia sees its ranking of where adspend is growing most as a useful guide for international networks juggling competing claims for investment, said the agency's head of knowledge management, Adam Smith. "This is a shopping list in geographical diversification," he said. China, with an additional $1.5 billion adspend estimated for this year, ranked third on ZenithOptimedia's list behind Brazil, which clocked up almost $2 billion more media send this year. Russia was fourth with around $1.2 billion additional spend, while India completed the top five with $667 million. Indonesia placed seventh, behind the Saudi/pan-Arab region which is enjoying a current boon on the back of high oil prices. Japan was next, indicating its current ad revival is real, followed by the UK and Australia.