GAIN reports update

 

The following GAIN reports were released on December 5, 2022. _______   China: Frozen French Fry Exports Exceed Imports Marketing year (MY) 2022/23 China's frozen French fry (FFF) exports are estimated at 84,000 metric tons (MT), approximately 12 percent higher than the previous year. In MY 2021/22 China became a net FFF exporter for the first time, a trend that is likely to continue given a near doubling of FFF production capacity. China’s MY 2022/23 FFF imports are forecast at 50,000 MT, about six percent lower than MY 2021/22 due to logistics disruptions. China’s MY 2022/23 fresh potato production is estimated at 93 million metric tons (MMT), a two percent decrease over MY 2021/22 primarily due to decreased acreage.   China: Retaliatory Section 301 Tariff Exclusions Extended for Select Agricultural Products On November 28, 2022, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) extended the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 11 agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa, and six hardwood products. The SCTC notice includes other non-agricultural commodities, too. The exclusions were set to expire on November 30, 2022, and have been extended until May 31, 2023. The report contains an unofficial translation of the SCTC announcement, a list of agricultural products subject to the tariff exclusion, and links to reports of other retaliatory tariff exclusions announced by SCTC.   Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic Swine Voluntary Report-ASF Outbreak Creates Increased Opportunities for US Swine Meat Exports to the DR  In July 2021, authorities detected African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Dominican Republic (DR). The disease, which rapidly spread throughout the country, crippled local swine production, but boosted export opportunities for U.S. swine meat producers to the Dominican market. With a nationwide control and eradication effort underway, DR will face a nearly 30 percent fall in swine production in calendar year (CY 2023) over the same period in CY 2021; meanwhile, imports are expected to supply the shortfall. With free market access, the United States will continue as the principal provider of swine meat imports into the DR.   Egypt: Updates to Egypt's National Food Safety Authority Issues Technical Regulation for the Maximum Residue Levels of Chemical Contaminates in Food  This report is an update to GAIN report number EG2022-0022. The report includes English translation of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) Decision of Board of Directors No. 6/2022 concerning the binding technical basis for maximum residue levels (MRLs) for chemical contaminants in food. English translation of the appendices attached to this report. Corrected to add the attachments.   India: Cotton and Products Update FAS Mumbai estimates marketing year (MY) 2022/23 India cotton production at 27.5 million 480 lb. bales, on 13 million hectares. Widespread planting of unapproved hybrids in Central India is likely to improve yields due to its shorter maturity duration which will allow for fewer heavy infestations of pink bollworm. Farmers continue to store and hold supplies, as prices remain elevated. Consequently, new crop market arrivals are much lower than last year. Mill consumption is estimated at 23.8 million 480 lb. bales as textile demand from major export markets weakens. An import duty of ten percent on raw cotton has been reinstated since November 1, but mills continue to source extra-long staple cotton for export commitments.   India: India's FSSAI Issues Order on Rectifiable Labeling Information for Imported Food Products On November 18, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the Order F. No. Import/TFM/APEX/2022-FSSAI. The FSSAI, aiming to help facilitate trade, while ensuring the safety of food being imported into India, issued the directive authorizing the rectification of all non-compliant labels on imported food consignments to be done at the port-of-entry. The direction permits the rectification of labels to be carried out by affixing a single non-detachable sticker or by any other non-detachable method within the confines of a Customs bonded warehouse before the visual inspection, or the re-inspection, by the FSSAI authorized officer or representative.   India: India's FSSAI Rolls Out Re-Operationalized Nutraceutical Regulations On November 28, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified on its website the Direction Std/SP-05/T(Nutraceutical-2022) (part-1)-Part (1) (October 18, 2022) (see, Appendix I). The FSSAI Direction indicates that the draft Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose and Prebiotic and Probiotic Food) Regulations (2022), as per provisions specified in its earlier directives of March 29, 2021, and May 5, 2022, is re-operationalized as of October 1, 2022. The FSSAI is issuing this directive assuming that the regulation in its final form is delayed for the foreseeable future.   Peru: Biofuels Annual Peruvian ethanol production in 2022 is forecast at 220 million liters, a slight increase compared to the previous year. Ethanol consumption for 2022 is forecast at 260 million liters. Peru is forecast to produce 208 million liters of biodiesel in 2022. Owing to supply chain interruptions, Peru temporarily suspended the biodiesel mandate resulting in significantly lower imports. Biodiesel imports in 2022 are forecast to fall 67 percent to 50 million liters.   Vietnam: Cotton and Products Update Vietnam cotton imports in marketing year 2021/22 (MY21/22) decreased 9 percent year on year to roughly 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) with a 30-percent higher value at $3.5 billion, according to Vietnam Customs data. Cotton imports dropped significantly from April to July 2022, mostly due to low demand for cotton yarn, which dragged down total Vietnam cotton imports in MY21/22. U.S. cotton exports to Vietnam in MY21/22 significantly contracted by 36 percent year on year to 428 thousand metric tons (TMT), lower than Post’s estimates of 25 percent in the 2022 Vietnam Cotton Annual Report. Australia cotton exports to Vietnam gained in market share with an increase of 146 percent, from 122 TMT in MY20/21 to 300 TMT in MY21/22. Post revises its forecast on Vietnam cotton imports in MY22/23 down 5 percent year on year to 6.3 million bales or 1.4 MMT due to volatility in prices and falling global demand for textile and apparel products.     For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.