The most valuable brands in the world
BrandZ has revealed the most valuable brands in world for 2013, showing that tech giant, Apple, has retained its position at numner 1.
According to BrandZ, the top 100 global brands have increased their total value by 9% to a whopping US$2.6 trillion, compared to the flat growth (1%) seen in 2012.
South Africa’s MTN Group topped the list as the highest ranked African brand at 79th, having boosted its value by 23% and climbing 9 places with a brand value of US$11.448 billion.
“Modest recovery in developed economies, particularly in the US, drove the positive change in BrandZ 2013. And, despite slower economic expansion, the BRICs continued to propel certain categories, especially luxury,” the report said.
BrandZ noted that brand value had increased in every category except for technology and oil and gas, which declined slightly.
Despite the decline, however, technology remained the dominant sector, with the top 3 most highly-valued brands coming from the tech field.
Category changes
The best in tech
Apple increased its brand value by 1% to US$185.071 billion to claim the number one spot, while Internet giant, Google, boosted its value by 5% to US$113.669 billion to take second place.
International Business Machines (IBM) – the former number 2 – lost 3% of brand value in 2013 and fell to third place at US$112.536 billion.
The world’s largest Software company, Microsoft, slipped two position on the list to 7th, having lost 9% of brand value over the year to US$69.814 billion.
Telecoms companies in the top 10 managed to boost brand value significantly, with AT&T being the top operator with a brand value of US$75.507 billion – an increase of 10% – gaining two places to 6th overall.
The only other telecoms operator in the top 10 is China Mobile, which boosted brand value by 18% to US$55.368 billion at 10th place.
Global brands such as McDonalds (4th), Coca-Cola (5th), Marlboro (8th) and Visa (9th) round off the non-tech companies listed in the top 10.
Top 10 most valuable global brands
| # | Brand | Change | Value (US$bn) |
| 1 | Apple | 1% | 185.071 |
| 2 | 5% | 113.669 | |
| 3 | IBM | -3% | 112.536 |
| 4 | McDonalds | -5% | 90.256 |
| 5 | Coca-Cola | 6% | 78.415 |
| 6 | AT&T | 10% | 75.507 |
| 7 | Microsoft | -9% | 69.814 |
| 8 | Marlboro | -6% | 69.383 |
| 9 | Visa | 46% | 56.060 |
| 10 | China Mobile | 18% | 55.368 |
Top 20 most valuable global tech brands
| # | Brand | Change | Value (US$bn) |
| 1 | Apple | 1% | 185.071 |
| 2 | 5% | 113.669 | |
| 3 | IBM | -3% | 112.536 |
| 6 | AT&T | 10% | 75.507 |
| 7 | Microsoft | -9% | 69.814 |
| 10 | China Mobile | 18% | 55.368 |
| 11 | General Electric | 21% | 55.357 |
| 12 | Verizon | 8% | 53.004 |
| 14 | Amazon | 34% | 45.727 |
| 17 | Vodafone | -8% | 39.712 |
| 19 | SAP | 34% | 34.365 |
| 21 | Tencent | 52% | 27.273 |
| 27 | Deutsche Telekom | -11% | 23.893 |
| 30 | Samsung | 51% | 21.404 |
| 31 | -36% | 21.261 | |
| 33 | Baidu | -16% | 20.443 |
| 36 | Oracle | -11% | 20.039 |
| 47 | ebay | 40% | 17.749 |
| 53 | Accenture | 2% | 16.503 |
| 54 | Hewlett-Packard | -29% | 16.362 |
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