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The following GAIN reports were released on August 15, 2023. _______
China’s consumption of wood products has fallen significantly due to slowing economic growth, a weakened housing sector, changing consumer preferences, and reduced demand from overseas markets. Hardwood and softwood log imports declined 10 percent and 38 percent, respectively, in 2022. Industry expects lumber will account for an increasing proportion of imported timber (as opposed to logs) due to comparatively greater freight efficiency, higher production costs to process logs into sawn timber, and a Russian ban on log exports including softwood and some high value hardwoods such as ash, maple, oak, and beech. |
The following GAIN reports were released on August 14, 2023.
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Canada: Biofuels Annual
Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation (CFR) became law on July 6, 2022. It aims to reduce the carbon intensity of liquid transportation fuels and has the potential to increase the use of low carbon-intensity diesel by an additional 2.2 billion liters and the use of ethanol by an additional 700 million liters by 2030 under the CFR, according to the federal government. Canadian fuel ethanol consumption increased an estimated 20 percent in 2022, year-over-year, to 3.4 billion liters. Canadian imports of U.S. fuel ethanol increased 40 percent to 1.76 billion liters. In 2023, the CFR is expected to support an upward trend in the average nationwide blend level and growth in U.S ethanol imports. Effective January 1, 2023, Quebec requires ten percent renewable content in gasoline and 15 percent in diesel. Canada’s first renewable diesel facility, owned by Tidewater Midstream, began commercial operation in June 2023.
European Union: Biofuels Annual
With the gradual lifting of the lockdowns, and recovering economies, consumption of bioethanol and biobased diesel (BBD) are estimated to have increased by respectively 6.1 percent and 0.6 percent in 2022. For both biofuels, the achieved level in 2022 is above the pre-COVID level of 2019, and a new record. Reinforced by the policy support measures of the second Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), both bioethanol and BBD consumption are forecast to increase by about two percent in 2023. Despite expanding demand, EU bioethanol production is anticipated to decline this year due to falling sugar beet supplies. EU BBD production is forecast to increase only marginally with lower biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)) production compensated by further expanding production of hydrogenation derived renewable diesels (HDRD). Based on expanding consumption and stagnating domestic production, EU imports of both bioethanol and BBD are forecast to increase more than ten percent this year.
India: India's Buyers' Sweet Success at Chicago's NRA and Sweets and Snacks Expo
FAS New Delhi (Post) for the first time participated in the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Trade show and Sweets and Snacks Expo (SSE) 2023, leading a delegation of major Indian buyers. The USDA/FAS sponsored buyer delegation is reporting that attendance at the NRA and SSE trade shows resulted in over $75,000 in immediate, on the spot sales; and $1.2 million in new U.S. food product sales over the next 12-months. The Indian delegation met with over 120 U.S. exhibitors in more than 150 business-to-business meetings facilitated by FAS New Delhi staff. It is critical to have Post staff in attendance to assist with the introductions and highlight the credibility of the participating delegates as potential trade partners.
Mexico: Mexico Notifies Revised NOM-187 to the WTO and Opens 60-day Comment Period
On July 28, 2023, the Government of Mexico (GOM) notified a revised NOM-187 to the World Trade Organization and opened a 60-day comment period. NOM-187 establishes the sanitary and commercial requirements for products made from nixtamalized corn and for the establishments that produce these products. The proposed changes include a ban on genetically engineered (GE) corn in nixtamalized products. The standard applies to both domestic and imported products, excluding snacks.
The following GAIN reports were released on August 11, 2023.
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Egypt: FAIRS Annual Country Report
In June 2022, Egypt launched a trial phase of the Advanced Clearance Information (ACI) system on airfreight, in which a three-month grace period will be extended prior to enforcement. Within this system, traders must register with the designated platforms (CargoX for exporters and importers, and ACI for importers only). In this trial phase, the new customs system has reduced an average clearance time from 28 days to nine days, with an end goal of a one-day clearance timeframe. The Egyptian government is no longer requiring authentication on Certificates of Origin from the Egyptian Embassy. However, authentication of animal health certificates is still required. Egypt's halal requirement on milk and dairy products is still under question.
Egypt: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual
The Egyptian Government no longer requires the authentication of Certificates of Origin from the Egyptian Embassy; however, authentication of animal health certificates is still required. On June 16, 2023, the Government of Egypt (GOE) issued a WTO/TBT addendum extending the requirement for halal certification of imported milk and dairy products until October 1, 2023. In March 2023, Animal and Plant Health Service changed VS-form 16-4 form for animal products exported to Egypt. The revised form will allow for enhanced flexibility moving forward.
Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton - Volume 3 Issue 16
Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: Alaska Seafood and ATO Reconnect with Hong Kong Traders; Hong Kong’s GDP Slows Down in Second Quarter; Macau To Boost Events in Latter Half of 2023; Robust Growth Expected for Macau’s GDP; Hong Kong Restaurant Receipts Up in Second Quarter; Macau’s Hotel Occupancy at 83 percent in June; Hong Kong Retail Sales Up 19.6 percent in June; Hong Kong conveys concerns over Japan’s Wastewater disposal plans; Hong Kong Suspends Imports of Poultry Meat and Products from Dutch Province due to Avian Influenza; Local Oyster Growth Offers Possible Alternative Work Opportunities for Local Fishermen.
Japan: Japan Treatment for UK Accession to CPTPP
The United Kingdom (UK) and member states of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) signed the agreement to join the CPTPP in July 2023. Japan will grant the same treatment as the current CPTPP for UK agriculture, forestry, and fisheries products. For agricultural safeguard measures, Japan will retain the trigger levels and mechanisms for the other CPTPP members while including imports from the UK under the Japan-UK Economic Partnership Agreement for triggering the safeguard against the UK under the CPTPP.
South Africa: Surging Rapeseed Production
Post estimates that South Africa will produce a record rapeseed (locally called canola) crop of 220,000 metric tons in marketing year 2023/24. Rapeseed production in South Africa grew by 7-fold during the past 20 years after it was first introduced in the late 1990s. Constant yield growth from new cultivars combined with firm crush demand because of escalating vegetable oil prices supported the expansion in rapeseed production. As a result, South Africa started exporting rapeseed as local processing capacity is limited. Rapeseed exports should reach record levels in marketing year 2023/24.
Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly
Export prices further increased 3-6 percent due to the panic buying reaction from the India’s rice export ban.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
