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The following GAIN reports were released on July 25, 2023. _______
Canada: Grain and Feed UpdateWheat area rose to its highest level since 2001, at the expense of oats, rye, mixed grains, and lentils. Export volumes of wheat grain year-to-date (August to May) are up 78 percent over the same time last year, and wheat products (in grain equivalent) are up 21 percent. Up until the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, wheat export prices had been declining throughout the marketing year due to a large global wheat supply and relatively fluid global grain trade. Extreme drought conditions persist in southern Alberta, with severe drought stretching to central Alberta. Scattered showers have helped stabilize crop conditions in northern regions of the prairie provinces; however, crop conditions are deteriorating, and more rain is needed.
Hong Kong: FAIRS Annual Country ReportThis report provides guidelines on Hong Kong’s food import regulations. For the 2023 FAIRS report, the following changes have been made: 1) Section II – Labeling. Effective December 1, 2023, food containing hydrogenated oils must be labeled, 2) Instructions for brand name and food name on package have been updated, 3) Section III – Packaging. Glass Beverage Containers Scheme (GPRS) information update after implementation on May 1, 2023, and 4) Section VI: Other Requirements, Regulations, and Registration Measures. Effective February 1, 2023, Hong Kong prohibits the use of Cannabidiol (CBD). Meanwhile, there are two noticeable regulation amendments under discussion: 1) Plastic Beverage Containers Scheme (PPRS), and 2) Amendments to the Preservatives in Food Regulation Cap.132BD.
India: Grain and Feed UpdateThe recovery of the 2023 southwest monsoon from third week of June and forecasted normal precipitation in July will support ongoing planting of kharif (fall harvested) season crops. MY 2022/2023 (October/September) rice production is lowered to 134 million metric tons (MMT) on relatively tighter than expected supplies reflected from a rise in domestic prices and lower than expected government procurement under the government’s price support program. MY 2022/2023 rice ending stocks are estimated lower at 33 MMT. MY 2023/2024 wheat production is also forecast lower at 108 MMT on tight supplies. On June 12, 2023, the Indian government imposed stock limits on wheat for retailers, traders, and processors effective till March 31, 2024, to discourage price speculation. MY 2022/2023 ending stocks are revised lower to 8.5 MMT on lower-than-expected government wheat procurement.
India: India - Implementation of Transition Period for the Integrated Veterinary Health Certificate for Imports of Milk and Milk ProductsOn July 17, 2023, India’s Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying/Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), published Office Memorandum (OM) L-11/1/2019-Trade (E-11542). The OM grants additional transition time to stakeholders before implementation begins on the requirement of the integrated veterinary health certificate (VHC) for the import of milk and milk products into India. The new date of implementation is set for December 31, 2023. The timeline has been extended to provide “Ease of Doing Business,” as well as support various representations received from industry stakeholders to delay implementation.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. |
The following GAIN reports were released on July 21, 2023.
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Hong Kong: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual
Hong Kong does not have any certification changes for food imports since the last report submitted in July 2022. This report lists the certificates required by the Hong Kong Government (HKG) for U.S. agricultural and food exports to Hong Kong. Certificate samples are included in the appendix.
Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly
Export prices increased 4-6 percent mainly due to the strengthening of the Thai baht.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
The following GAIN reports were released on July 20, 2023.
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Brazil: Citrus Semi-annual
The Brazilian orange crop for Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 is forecast at 410.6 million 40.8-kg boxes (MBx) or 16.75 million metric tons (MMT), a slight decrease of 1.1 percent vis-à-vis the current season, with the resumption of the biennial crop cycle and consequently, a lower fruit load per tree. Meanwhile, orange weight at harvest is projected to increase 3.71 percent in relation previous crop, due to heavy rains throughout the citrus belt since October 2022. FCOJ 65 Brix equivalent production for MY 2022/23 is forecast at 1.125 million metric tons (MMT), a decrease of nine percent from the estimated orange juice production for MY 2021/22, which was revised upward to 1.135 MMT. A larger share will supply the U.S. market to compensate Florida's juice production, which was damaged significantly by hurricane Ian.
China: China Issues Quality Standard for Nut and Seed Food
The State Administration for Market Regulation issued the General Quality Standard for Nut and Seed Food, which will come into force on August 1, 2023. The national standard, which replaces the existing General Standard for Roasted Seed and Nuts (GB/T 22165-2008), provides terms and definitions, classification, technical requirements, inspection methods and rules, as well as labeling, packaging, transportation, and storage requirements for nut and seed products. This is a recommended standard that has not been notified to the WTO. However, a draft was published in November 2021 for domestic comments (see GAIN report CH2021-0142). This report contains an unofficial translation of the standard.
Honduras: Retail Foods
Honduras is the twenty-seventh most important export destination for consumer goods from the United States. Honduras' imports for fiscal year 2022 was $522.6 million, ranking second only to Guatemala in Central America and sixth in the Americas. In 2022, the value of US consumer goods exports to Honduras climbed 10.1 percent by value and -0.3 percent by volume over 2021. Honduras imported a total of US $1.7 billion in consumer goods from around the world.
Kazakhstan: Grain and Feed Update
According to government information releases and FAS-Astana contacts, spring grain planting was completed in early June and planting conditions were generally favorable, leading FAS-Astana to estimate no significant change to wheat and barley planted area in MY2023/2024. FAS-Astana estimates wheat production in MY 2023/2024 at 14.0 million metric tons (MMT), 1.0 MMT higher than the original forecast of 13.0 MMT. In April 2023, Kazakhstan implemented a six-month ban on wheat imports by road in response to competition from Russia.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
The following GAIN reports were released on July 19, 2023.
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Argentina: Oilseeds and Products Update
Post estimates MY 2022/2023 soybean production at 21.25 million metric tons (MMT), 3.75 MMT below the official USDA estimate on lower than expected yields. Soybean sales have been driven primarily by government programs offering exchange rate incentives and farmers are holding remaining soybean in anticipation of similar future programs. Precipitation levels have improved in recent months across much of the growing region.
South Africa: Grain and Feed Update
South Africa is currently harvesting its second largest corn crop in history and a fourth consecutive bumper crop. This creates a bearish outlook on local corn prices and will limit an expansion in the area to be planted with corn in marketing year (MY) 2023/24. Additionally, Post foresees that the positive trend in soybean plantings will continue, also limiting possible expansion of corn area. However, South Africa should maintain its status as a net exporter of corn under normal climatic conditions. Post estimates South Africa could export around 2.5 million metric tons (MMT) of corn in MY 2023/24, while exports in MY 2022/23 are expected to reach 4 MMT. In MY 2021/22, South Africa?exported 3.7 MMT of corn, keeping exports on the same level as MY 2020/21.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
