USDA Foreign Agricultural Service,update

 

2025 U.S. Ethanol Exports Reach Second Consecutive Record High During the past 2 years, U.S. ethanol exports reached new volume and value records, fueled by growing global ethanol import demand and reduced competition from Brazil, the world’s second-largest ethanol exporter. Top ethanol-importing markets like Canada, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), India, Colombia, and the Philippines increased ethanol consumption and drove global import demand higher. At the same time, strong domestic fuel ethanol demand in Brazil reduced exportable supplies and raised domestic prices, allowing the United States to increase export share to a growing market. While 2026 U.S. ethanol exports are ahead of last year’s record pace through June, there are a handful of wildcards that could greatly impact exports throughout the rest of the year. Changing U.S. and global biofuel policies, the emergence and implementation of new trade agreements, and the impacts of high energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East could all have major impacts on 2026 U.S. ethanol exports. Please click here to read more >>   The following GAIN reports were released on September 16, 2026. _______ Honduras: Retail Foods Annual 2025, Honduras imported $3.7 billion in agricultural and related products from the world. U.S. exports to Honduras totaled $1.4 billion, representing approximately 39 percent of the market and a 0.5 percent increase from 2024, making Honduras the 25th-largest global market for U.S. agricultural and related products. Consumer-oriented food imports totaled $2.2 billion, up 6.7 percent from 2024, and reached 1.3 million metric tons, an increase of 4.7 percent. U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to Honduras surpassed $671 million, up 9.6 percent from the previous year. European Union: Livestock and Products Annual The EU cattle herd is forecast to shrink further in 2026 and 2027 because of high input costs, strict and burdensome EU regulations, and the spread of animal diseases. EU domestic beef prices are anticipated to rise due to the limited domestic supply, the EU import ban on Brazilian beef, and constrained availability from alternative sources. The EU swine sector is still subject to the swine cycle. Good revenues in 2025 caused elevated slaughter during the first half of 2026. The findings of African Swine Fever in Spain in December 2025, however, resulted in export restrictions and an oversupply of pork on the EU market. This new reality is projected to press pork production and exports during the second half of 2026 and in 2027. European Union: Tree Nuts Annual In 2025, the European Union (EU) imported $9.7 billion in tree nuts globally, with the United States as the top supplier at $3.7 billion (38 percent market share), led by almonds, pistachios, and walnuts, despite rising competition from Türkiye and growing domestic EU production. The EU remains heavily dependent on imports to meet demand that outpaces domestic production, reinforcing the strategic value of U.S. supply. This demand is fueled by rising consumer interest in healthy, high-protein snacking, positioning tree nuts as a growth category across the food processing and retail sectors. A new EU-U.S. trade agreement, effective July 2026, eliminates tariffs and establishes a 500,000-MT tariff-rate quota for tree nuts at 0 percent duty, creating significant opportunities for U.S. exporters. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit www.fas.usda.gov. The following GAIN reports were released on September 15, 2026. _______ Brazil: Poultry and Products Annual Brazil is the third-largest chicken meat producer and the largest chicken meat exporter in the world. Post forecasts chicken meat production will increase in 2027 due to consistent external demand, a lower currency valuation, lower production costs, increased domestic consumption, and despite sluggish socio-economic performance. Brazil is currently free from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial plants. Post forecasts both domestic consumption and exports to increase in 2027 as Brazil opens new markets and diversifies exports to existing markets. Kenya: Barley - The Alternative Lifeline for Kenyan Wheat Farmers Kenyan wheat farmers are increasingly switching to barley to escape high costs, rigid pricing, and import competition. The transition is seamless because both crops share identical soil and climate requirements across the Narok-Nakuru-Meru belt. Although the local private sector offers guaranteed pre-planting prices that shield growers from market volatility, increased barley demand in the regional markets has rallied prices, accelerating the pivot towards the crop. Kenya: The COMESA EAC SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Update The East African Community (EAC) has begun implementing preferential tariff treatment for qualifying goods from Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries under the COMESA–EAC–SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA). Legal Notice No. EAC/138/2026, issued on May 22, 2026, covers eligible SACU-originating goods entering seven EAC markets (excluding Tanzania) and establishes Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for specified beef products from Botswana and Namibia. The new preferences create different tariff conditions for SACU and non-TFTA suppliers, with implications for U.S. agricultural products currently exported to EAC markets and for U.S. products with future market potential. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit www.fas.usda.gov. The following GAIN reports were released on September 14, 2026. _______ European Union: Poultry and Products Annual Driven by strong internal demand, EU chicken meat production is expected to continue growing in 2027. In 2027, Poland will remain the largest EU chicken meat producer, accounting for more than 21 percent of total EU production. The EU trade surplus in chicken meat is expected to increase in 2027 with significantly lower imports if the EU ban on Brazilian chicken meat which started in September 2026 continues into 2027 while EU Exports could be slightly constrained by increased competition from Brazilian meat in export markets. Indonesia: Indonesia Issues New Halal Regulations with Trade Implications As the October 17, 2026 deadline for mandatory halal certification for most agricultural products approaches, Indonesia’s halal authority (BPJPH) has issued several regulations with trade implications for approximately $2.5 billion in U.S. agricultural exports. Notably, BPJPH formally exempted soybeans, corn, and other plant-based genetically engineered raw commodities from halal certification requirements, greenlighting approximately $1.25 billion in annual U.S. exports. However, BPJPH also clarified halal slaughter requirements and issued measures which would require U.S. exporters to have pre-shipment inspections, hire halal supervisors, and meet labeling requirements for non-halal products. FAS continues to seek clarity since many details related to the implementation of these regulations remain uncertain and invites comments from U.S. industry. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit www.fas.usda.gov. The following GAIN reports were released on September 11, 2026. _______     Argentina: Poultry and Products Annual Post forecasts Calendar Year 2027 (CY) Argentine chicken meat production at 2.59 million metric tons (MMT). CY2027 exports are forecast at 125,000 MT as markets affected by the 2026 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks reopen gradually. China, traditionally one of Argentina’s top poultry export markets, remains closed. Imports are forecast at 50,000 MT, driven by increased purchases of mechanically separated meat (MSM) from Brazil to make up for lower domestic supplies. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Wonton Vol 6 Issue 6 Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: Hawaiian Coffee, USA Rice, and the Great State of Wyoming Showcase at Food Expo Pro Trade Show; ATO and U.S. Wheat Associates Help Hong Kong Bakers Discover Premium U.S. Ingredients, SPAM Hits Hong Kong’s Café Culture; Hong Kong Attracts Mainland Food and Beverage Businesses Going Global; Restaurant Sales See Modest Increase in First Half 2026; Retail Food Sales Continue to Face Headwinds from Online and Cross Border Shopping Trends; and Macau Sees Returns on Non-Gaming Economic Diversification Strategy. Paraguay: Livestock and Products Annual Paraguayan beef exports in 2027 are forecast at 460,000 tons carcass weight equivalent (CWE), among the five highest levels on record. Higher production and only marginal growth in domestic beef consumption are expected to increase exportable supplies, with most additional output directed to foreign markets. Meanwhile, poultry and pork consumption are forecast to continue expanding as rising domestic production and new investment increase supplies and support further market growth. Tanzania: Tanzania Poultry Market Dynamics and Access Constraints The United States continues to lack access to mainland Tanzania's poultry market, despite ongoing supply constraints and shortages of key inputs. In Zanzibar, increased excise duties on frozen chicken have led to the closure of a longstanding U.S. supplier and variable year-over-year U.S. export volumes, despite still having market access. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit www.fas.usda.gov.