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The following GAIN reports were released on September 24, 2026. _______Nay Pyi Taw, the administrative capital of Burma, remains the country's political center and an important market for the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector. Following elections in January 2026 election, Post surveyed the city's retail, distribution, and hospitality sectors to assess opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products. While industry contacts remain hungry for imported food and beverage products and are cautiously optimistic that the new government may gradually ease import licensing restrictions, foreign exchange constraints, supply chain disruptions, and persistent advocacy for self-sufficiency in domestic food manufacturing presents obstacles for imported products. Colombia's fuel ethanol production for 2026 is forecast to fall 10 percent to 400 million liters (ML) as sugar mills reallocate a larger share of cane toward sugar production amid a gradual, weather-related recovery in cane supply. This shift is expected to push ethanol imports up 16 percent to 505 ML, raising their share of consumption above 55 percent. Biodiesel production in 2026 in is estimated to rise 4.5 percent to 765 ML on record crude palm oil output, with the B10 mandate unchanged and Colombia remaining fully self-sufficient in biodiesel feedstock. Colombia's SAF Roadmap target to produce 100 million gallons by 2035 remains in place, and a new Ecopetrol marine biodiesel blend (B2) is expanding from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz strained Colombia's fuel price stabilization fund for both ethanol and biodiesel due to elevated international crude prices. THAIFEX ANUGA Asia 2027 will take place May 25–29, 2027, at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. As Asia's premier food and beverage trade exhibition and a USDA-endorsed trade show, the event offers U.S. exporters and agricultural cooperator groups direct access to high-volume buyers, distributors, and retail executives across Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The USA Pavilion welcomed tens of thousands of trade visitors, generating $1.25 million in on-site sales, nearly $12.6 million in projected 12-month sales, and introducing 128 new U.S. products to the market. The following GAIN reports were released on September 22, 2026. _______Guatemala, Central America’s horticultural hub with nearly 19 million people, is a leading U.S. trading partner in the region, with nearly all U.S. goods entering duty-free under CAFTA-DR. Economic growth is projected at 3.6–4.1 percent in 2026, supported by consumer spending and remittances. The food retail sector reached $11 billion in 2025, although traditional markets and neighborhood stores still account for most food sales. Walmart, Unisuper, and PriceSmart lead the formal retail sector, with opportunities for U.S. exporters in private-label, organic, and premium products, particularly through experienced local distributors that can navigate regulatory requirements and a price-sensitive market. The following GAIN reports were released on September 21, 2026. _______New Zealand’s livestock sector enters market year 2027 with improving cattle numbers, strong farmgate returns, and robust international demand. FAS/Wellington forecasts beginning cattle stocks at 9.97 million head, a 1.3 percent increase from market year (MY) 2026 and the highest level in five years. Favorable farmgate prices, improved farm balance sheets, renewed investment, and increased retention of breeding stock are supporting herd expansion. FAS/Wellington forecasts New Zealand beef and veal exports globally at 655,000 metric tons CWE in MY 2027. The United States accounted for almost 40 percent of New Zealand beef and veal exports through July 2026, with volumes increasing more than 14 percent year-on-year. Strong U.S. demand is being supported by historically tight domestic cattle supplies and constrained availability of lean beef trimmings. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit www.fas.usda.gov. |
