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The following GAIN reports were released on August 3, 2023. _______
Canada: Canadian Bee Industry Receives Government Support to Recover from 2022 Honey Bee LossesFollowing significant honey bee colony losses in 2022, a number of provinces and the Government of Canada have announced funding availability to beekeepers, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Program to offset costs of losses and replacements. Honey bee losses, along with limited availability of and high costs of replacements, resulted in adverse impacts to pollination, and consequently yield, for a number of commodities in 2022. Canada opened access for imports of packaged bees from Ukraine and Italy in Spring 2023.
Indonesia: Oilseeds and Products UpdateEl-Nino weather patterns, which bring less rain than normal, are expected to peak in August to September 2023. Indonesia palm oil consumption is revised up slightly on higher use from the biodiesel industry for 2022/23. Weaker feed industry performance in the first half of 2023 is expected to curb soybean meal demand to 5.65 MMT in 2022/23.
Mexico: Livestock and Products AnnualBeef and pork production in 2024 is forecast to increase due to stronger producer returns from lower feed prices, as well as increased domestic and international demand. Beef imports are forecast to remain flat due to sufficient stocks, while pork imports are forecast to recover after falling in 2023. 2024 exports are forecast to increase due to higher production and global demand, albeit modestly. In 2023, less elevated grain prices, a record-level appreciation of the Mexican peso, and generally favorable weather conditions in livestock production areas are forecast to spur Mexico’s beef and pork production. Producer input costs are expected to decline along with the stronger peso. Nevertheless, the strong peso will likely offset any export increases stemming from higher production, as well as increase competition from imports in 2023. As inflation in Mexico moderates, pork and beef consumption is forecast to increase slightly in both 2023 and 2024.
Mexico: Market Snapshot Report - Mexico CityThe following report is the latest in a series of ‘snapshots’ of specific Mexican markets for U.S. food and beverage products, prepared by the Agricultural Trade Offices (ATOs) in Mexico City and Monterrey. This report features Mexico City, Mexico’s largest city and sub-national market. The information contained in this report is intended to identify market opportunities for U.S.-origin food and agricultural products in Mexico’s political center, global culinary capital, and major engine of the country’s economy.
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 August 2, 2023.
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Angola: Exporter Guide
With a population of nearly 36 million people, including a segment of high-income consumers looking for quality imported products, Angola presents an array of export opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. Angola is a significant importer of food and agricultural goods, making foreign purchases totaling more than $2.75 billion from more than 60 countries in 2022. The country imports over half of its food, and Post sees the best U.S. export opportunities in the consumer-oriented products category, which accounted for more than 99 percent of the United States’ $237 million in agricultural exports to Angola in 2022. Middle- and high-income consumers, especially in the capital of Luanda, are looking for quality imported goods. Post has identified the following consumer-oriented product categories with the most potential for U.S. exports: poultry, beef, pork, rice, pulses and dry beans, soy and vegetable oil, sauces and condiments, distilled spirits, and wine.
Canada: Canada Reimplements Temporary Import Requirements for US Romaine Lettuce
Canada will once again implement additional temporary import requirements for U.S. origin romaine lettuce for Fall 2023. The additional requirements will be in effect from September 28, 2023 to December 20, 2023. As with previous years’ requirements, Canada will require imported romaine lettuce and/or salad mixes containing romaine lettuce originating from the Salinas Valley counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito to have a negative test for E. coli O157:H7 or a Proof of Origin for romaine and/or salad mixes from other U.S. growing regions.
Canada: Poultry and Products Annual
Chicken meat production is forecast to show moderate growth in 2024, based on a steady demand for this protein source. In 2023, the chicken sector continued to face production challenges due to tight supplies of hatching eggs and day-old chicks, as HPAI disproportionately impacted breeder and hatching farms. With domestic production below planned levels, and favorable international prices, chicken imports are expected to stay strong throughout 2023. In 2024, import tariff rate quota (TRQ) volumes will approach 119,000 metric tons, with the United States expected to maintain more than 80 percent share of total Canadian chicken meat imports. In 2023, Chile was the first country to take advantage of CPTPP TRQ volumes, although shipments halted in spring following HPAI detection.
Costa Rica: Retail Foods
The Costa Rican retail sector continues to grow with an increasing number of modern supermarkets stocking a growing range of imported products. Many consumers are turning to private label products in response to economic and pricing pressures, while more affluent consumers have shown a steady interest in premium imported products. U.S. exports of consumer-oriented food and beverage products to Costa Rica reached a record high of $420 million in calendar year 2022.
European Union: Grain and Feed Quarterly
Weather conditions ranging from excessive heat to cooler than average temperatures, and from drought to excessive moisture, have curbed MY 2023/24 EU winter grain production expectations. July’s heatwave also raised concerns over EU corn crop prospects. The deterioration of the domestic crop is expected to prevent EU grain exports from expanding and supports steady imports. Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, 2023, has increased market volatility. If trade disruptions extend until autumn, alternative channels would need to be found to release the grain crop out of Ukraine. Intra-EU trade would then become particularly critical and EU grain exporters could regain competitiveness in third countries markets.
Indonesia: Grain and Feed Update
Economic slowdowns in Indonesia’s export destination countries curbed Indonesia’s imports and consumption of wheat. Indonesia wheat imports for 2022/23 are estimated to decrease to 9.0 million metric tons (MMT) from 11.23 MMT imported in 2021/22, reflecting slower demand. Indonesia’s total consumption of wheat in 2022/23 is estimated at 9.5 MMT of wheat equivalent, lower than the previous estimate of 9.7 MMT of wheat equivalent. Meanwhile, El Nino is expected to reduce 2022/23 rice production to 52.9 MMT compared to the previous 2022/23 estimate of 53.5 MMT. In anticipation of price fluctuations, state-owned enterprise BULOG will likely fully utilize its food security mandate to import 2.0 MMT of rice in 2022/23.
Philippines: Market Brief on Halal Products
The Philippines is an emerging market for halal products due to its growing Muslim population. Additionally, the country is positioning itself as a halal food processing hub for export to other countries and regions with significant Muslim populations. In 2022, the Philippines imported $120 million worth of halal products, including dairy products, beef, poultry meat and products, glucose syrup, and animal fats. Notably, more than 40 percent of these imports originated in the United States. These factors present an opportunity for U.S. suppliers seeking to enter the lucrative global halal market.
Taiwan: Taiwan Temporarily Revises Quarantine Requirements for Imported Egg Products
Taiwan has temporarily revised its quarantine requirements to curtail disease-zone restrictions for imported eggs and egg products. U.S. eggs and egg products that are sourced from a farm with no outbreak of poultry diseases for at least 28 days before export are permitted to ship until June 30, 2024, provided that they also meet the other requirements in the temporary special project and food safety rules. After July 1, 2024, U.S. eggs and egg products must comply with the regular quarantine requirements.
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 August 1, 2023.
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Bosnia and Herzegovina: FAIRS Annual Country Report
This report provides information on the food and agricultural product import requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Important points of contact for U.S. food exporters are listed in the appendices. Sections updated in June 2023: Executive Summary, Section I. Food Laws, and Section VII. Other Specific Standards.
China: China Trade Data Update - 1st Half CY2023
The General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC) trade data through the first six months of 2023 show an 8.3 percent increase in the total import value of agricultural commodities compared to the same period last year, and relatively flat exports over the same period. Import volumes were mixed, with significant increases in vegetable oils and soybeans, modest increases in meats and grains, and lower volumes of cotton, dried fruits and nuts, and logs and timber. The increase in agricultural imports comes amid concerns that the overall economy remains sluggish, with monthly economic data showing the post-Covid recovery has slowed.
Ghana: FAIRS Annual Country Report
The 2023 FAIRS Annual Country Report provides up to date information on the regulations and procedures for the importation of food and agricultural products to Ghana. The Government of Ghana announced a new policy in November 2022, suspending forex support for the import of some products it identified as non-critical. A major import policy review announced in the 2023 budget statement and economic policy has increased import duties of general goods, including food and agricultural products.
Japan: USJTA TRQs Remain Underutilized in JFY 2022
The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement, which entered into force on January 1, 2020, improved market access for U.S. products through the creation of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) for food wheat, wheat products, malt, processed cheese, whey, glucose and fructose, potato starch, corn starch, and inulin. In JFY 2022, allocation and fill rates of the TRQs remained underutilized. This report provides data on TRQ allocation and fill rates, together with out-of-quota imports observed during the previous fiscal year.
Philippines: Corn Import Regulations and Standards
This report outlines the Philippine government requirements for the importation of corn. It also provides points of contact for key Philippine government authorities.
Philippines: CREATE Customs Duty and VAT Exemption Guidelines
On June 30, 2023, the Department of Trade and Investment-Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-004 or the “Guidelines on the Availment of Duty Exemption/Value-Added Tax and Customs Duty Exemption on Importation of Capital Equipment, Raw Materials, Spare Parts and Accessories under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law."
Spain: Adverse Weather to Take a Toll on Dried Fodder Production in Spain
For MY 2023/24, lower area and poor yields are expected to push production levels well below the previous year’s levels. The reduced in-country crop is expected to prevent Spain’s fodder exports from expanding in MY 2023/24. However, a new protocol for oat fodder exports to China approved in 2022, along with diversified use of different crops for dehydrated fodder production, is expected to support Spanish dried fodder presence in Asian and Middle East markets.
Ukraine: Poultry and Products Annual
After a notable chicken meat production decline in 2022, the Ukrainian poultry industry is expected to make a limited recovery in 2023-24. All war-related production factors are expected to remain in place: the industry will face increasing production costs, energy shortage, domestic consumption decline due to the refugee crisis, and logistical export problems. Low feed costs are the industry’s saving grace. Although the production is higher, it is not expected to return to pre-war levels. Most of Ukraine’s poultry production is for the domestic market, and poultry will remain the cheapest protein available to the population. Domestic demand will continue to be strong despite the drop in disposable income. Ukraine exports around one-third of its poultry production, and exports will remain significant and increase as production rebounds. Due to continued trade regime liberalization, the EU will replace the Middle East as Ukraine’s major export destination market in 2023.
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 28, 2023.
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Ecuador: FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual
This report identifies Ecuador’s import requirements for foreign export certificates, highlighting current procedures and identifying the relevant local agencies with oversight over these issues. An export certificate matrix and outline is included. This report supplements the FAS Quito Food and Agricultural Import Regulations (FAIRS) Country Annual 2023 report.
Sri Lanka: FAIRS Annual Country Report
The Food Act No. 26 of 1980, Animal Feed Act No. 15 of 1986, Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999, and Import and Export Control Act No. 1 of 1969 are the main laws that govern food imports into Sri Lanka. Import regulation are in the hands of several state institutions, making the process complicated and time-consuming. Although several regulations have been in place for decades, new regulations are in the pipeline. In seeking to meet the commitments of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Sri Lanka is streamlining the processes of regulatory authorities. To streamline import and export trading processes, Sri Lanka has initiated two online platforms: The Sri Lanka Trade Information Portal and the National Single Window.
Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly
Export and domestic prices increased 1-6 percent due to the strengthening of the Thai baht and the continuing demand for Thai rice.
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 27, 2023.
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Ecuador: FAIRS Annual Country Report
This report outlines Ecuador’s requirements for food and agricultural product imports. It is a guide to the regulations that exporters need to consider in order to enter their products into the Ecuadorian market. Hyperlinks to ministries, agencies, and legal documents are provided throughout this report. This report reflects updated regulations issued in December 2022 regarding the process to obtain a Sanitary Notification for imported food products.
Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton - Volume 3 Issue 15
Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: SUSTA Brings Zing to Shoppers in First Collaboration with Unicorn Stores Ltd; Hong Kong Economy Should Fare Better for the Rest of the Year; New Round of Consumption Voucher to Inject Spending Power into the Market; June Consumer Price Index Rose 1.9 Percent; Macau’s GDP Expected to Rise 70 Percent for the First Half of 2023; Macau Closed the First Half of 2023 with Almost 12 Million Visitors; Japanese Restaurant Owners Says Business Slump Over Radiation Fears; Eight Bars in Hong Kong On the List of Asia’s 50 Best; F&B Sector in Macau Registers Revenue Increase; Hong Kong Seafood Businesses Brace for Sales Slump as Japan Plans to Discharge Wastewater.
Turkey: Grain and Feed Update
The wheat and barley harvest continues toward conclusion in Turkey, with a surprisingly better performance than expected after generous spring rains following a historic winter drought. Wheat production is revised higher at 18.5 million metric tons (MMT), and barley production is forecast at 7.8 MMT in Marketing Year (MY) 2023/24. The first corn crop planting s finished with total corn production forecast at 8 MMT. Turkey imported record grain amounts in MY2022/23.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.