GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION NETWORK(CAIN) latest

The following GAIN reports were released on August 13, 2021. _______   India: India - A Thumbs Up for Soybean Meal Imports Possibly Post’s sources inform that the Indian government is allowing for the import of up to 1.5 million metric tons (MMT) of foreign-origin soybean meal (including that derived from GE-soybeans) at a 16.5 percent basic customs duty. Final approval granting market access for soybean meal (including that derived from GE-soybeans) will made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. However, due to the absence of any notification, or official written guidance from the Indian government at present, there is high uncertainty on how this import quota will be implemented through October 31, 2021.   South Africa: Cyber-Attack Cripples Operations at the Port of Durban for the Second Time in a Month Days after the Port of Durban resumed operations after a period of civil unrest brought the terminal to a standstill, South Africa’s state-owned port, rail, and pipeline authority, Transnet, announced that a cyber-attack had again crippled the flow of goods in and out of the country. Transnet was forced to declare force majeure for the second time in a month after the cyber-attack on July 22, which forced port workers to manually track ship movements and resort to a paper-based clearance process for cargo at the Ports of Durban, Cape Town, Ngqura, and Gqeberha. The Port of Durban is the largest port terminal in sub-Saharan Africa, and 60 percent of Southern Africa’s containerized trade passes through the harbor. As a result of the cyber-attack, the processing time for imported cargo slowed dramatically as workers were only able to process about three containers per hour, according to Post’s contacts.   Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly Export prices of all grades of rice decreased 1-2 percent due to limited new inquiries and a further weakening of the Thai baht against the U.S. dollar.   Vietnam: Vietnam Organic Market Vietnam’s consumption of health and wellness products has significantly increased in recent years as its consumers become more affluent and health conscious. Although organic food and beverages remain a niche segment of the overall health and wellness market, U.S. exports of organic agricultural products to Vietnam doubled in 2020 despite an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A growing middle-class, higher disposable incomes, and increased concerns about health, combined with a limited domestic supply, are key factors that make Vietnam a potential growth market for imported organic food and beverage products.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.