GAIN reports

 

The following GAIN reports were released on June 4, 2024. Canada: Canada Consults on National Potato Wart Response Plan The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has opened a 60-day consultation on their draft National Potato Wart Response Plan. The consultation will remain open for comment until July 26, 2024. CFIA began a review of its approach for potato wart in 2020. To date, potato wart has been detected in two Canadian provinces: Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island. China: New USA-Based Registration Applications Under Decree 248  New export establishment registration applications that have been submitted in the U.S. FDA Export Listing Module (ELM) and GACC Bureau of Import Export Food Safety (BIEFS) China Import Food Enterprises Registration (CIFER) system since January 2022 are now being processed to allow U.S. exporters to register their manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities subject to Decree 248. Malaysia: Exporter Guide Annual The Malaysian food and beverage sector continues to grow steadily. U.S. exporters can expect new opportunities in the expanding food manufacturing sector especially for food ingredients. While halal certification is mandatory or strongly required for most foods, there are ample prospects for market share growth in the halal product space. Mexico: Tomatoes and Products Annual Mexico’s 2024 tomato production is forecast at 3.30 million metric tons (MMT), a two percent increase over 2023, driven by export demand and investment in protected agriculture systems. Production in 2023 is estimated at 3.22 MMT, down eight percent compared to the previous year due to water constraints from drought conditions in some production areas. Drought and adverse weather impacts remain the main challenges for Mexico’s tomato production. While some producers in Mexico have invested in protected production, other regions continue to produce in open fields, with lower yields and more exposure to climatic factors. 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 June 3, 2024.

Brazil: Coffee Annual

Brazil’s total coffee production for marketing year 2024/25 (July-June) is forecast at 69.9 million bags (60 kilograms per bag), green bean equivalent, a 5.4 percent increase over the previous crop year. Arabica production is expected to reach 48.2 million bags and robusta/conilon production is forecast at 21.7 million bags. Both forecasts represent increases over the 2023/24 season. Higher demand for Brazilian coffee, following the decline in production of other important coffee-producing countries, has also led to an increase in coffee exports. Post forecasts total coffee exports for MY 2024/25 (July-June) at 46.65 million 60-kg bags, green bean equivalent, up 2.4 percent in relation to the 2023/24 estimate.

European Union: EU Proposes New Regulation on Animal Welfare During Transportation 

On December 7, 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on the protection of animals during transport to replace Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. This proposal is the most advanced part of the EU’s review of the animal welfare legislation under the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy. The draft proposal shows that the Commission will seek to reduce maximum journey times for live animal, increase space allowances, amend the means of transport and transport conditions. This proposal also includes requirements for animals imported from third countries into the EU. The proposal would require additional training for inspectors, transporters, veterinarians and increase the administrative and financial burden throughout the process, including for trade with non-EU countries. 

Morocco: New Export Opportunities for US Seed Potatoes

On May 10, 2024, the Moroccan market opened for U.S. seed potatoes. The United States and Morocco agreed to the final requirements for import during the Plant Health Bilateral Meetings between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Morocco’s sanitary authority (ONSSA) from May 6-10, 2024. This capped a regulatory process that began in 2015. Morocco’s food processing industry has expressed interest in importing U.S. varieties of potatoes for planting that they can use to make potato chips and French fries. The U.S. industry estimated the potential Moroccan market for seed potatoes to be about $8 million USD. U.S. exporters can begin shipping as soon as there are Moroccan buyers. In 2023, Morocco imported over $42 million USD in seed potatoes primarily from the European Union (Netherlands, Denmark, and France) and the United Kingdom.

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 May 31, 2024.

Dominican Republic: The Dominican Republic Activates CAFTA-DR Safeguard Mechanism for Mozzarella Cheese from the United States 

The Dominican Republic, through its Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SME’s (MICM), announced the activation of the CAFTA-DR agricultural safeguard measure for imports of mozzarella cheese from the United States on May 22, 2024. The measure entails an applicable tariff rate of 11.2 percent to those imports for the rest of the year.

 

Hong Kong: Hong Kong Maintains Its Position as a Wine Trade Hub for Asia Despite Lukewarm Domestic Demand

The Hong Kong market has developed into a dynamic wine export destination since the abolishment of wine tariffs in 2008. The slow recovery of the global economy dampened the city’s global imports of wine in 2023. Nonetheless, the city remains one of the busiest wine re-export hubs in the world. As the global economy and the city’s economy continues to recover, retailers and food service operators in Hong Kong continue to adapt to challenging operational conditions and changing consumer behaviors in the city.

 

Japan: Japan Seeks Public Comments for the Amendment of Positive List of Synthetic Resin Used for Food Apparatus Containers and Packaging

The Government of Japan (GOJ) has opened the public comment period for the “amendment of positive list of synthetic resins used for food apparatus, containers, and packaging.” The public comment period will close on June 22, 2024 (Japan Time) and comments must be submitted in Japanese.

Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly

Rice export prices dropped 2-4 percent due to the weakening of the Thai baht despite a strong 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 May 30, 2024.

Vietnam: Coffee Annual

MY2024/25 coffee production is forecast at 29 million bags green bean equivalent (GBE) as higher coffee prices encourage coffee farmers to invest more in production, helping to stabilize production. Exports are forecast to stay steady in MY2024/25, while imports are forecast to rise to meet growing domestic demand.

 

Ukraine: Procedure for Temporary Registration of Genetically Engineered Cotton in Ukraine

Ukraine established a simplified procedure for temporary registration of genetically engineered cotton varieties only.

 

 

For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.