GAIN Reports from Friday, March 19, 2021

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Friday, March 19, 2021.   Costa Rica: Food Processing Ingredients   The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the largest economic contraction in Costa Rica since 1982, decimating the country's tourism sector, which accounts for 8 percent of GDP. Despite this economic contraction, U.S. agricultural exports of $732 million in 2020 stayed about the same as the prior year. Consumer-oriented products represent 40% of the total exports. The food processing industry is expected to continue to grow, however, there is increased competition from Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, and South America. Indonesia: Oilseeds and Products Annual   Favorable weather, increased use of fertilizer, and surging prices are expected to push Indonesia's palm oil production and exports to record highs 2021/22. As the economy rebounds and social distancing and travel restrictions are eased, soybean and soybean meal imports are forecast upward on increasing demand for tempeh, tofu, and poultry meat in the food service sector. Mexico: Livestock and Products Semi-annual   Mexico's calf and pig crops, as well as beef and pork production, are projected to grow in 2021, despite ongoing pandemic emergency measures hampering domestic demand from the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) foodservice industry. In 2021, live cattle exports are expected to drop from the record 1.6 million head seen in 2020. In 2021, beef imports are forecast to decline while pork imports increase, but exports of both animal proteins will increase compared to the same period. Projected increases in animal feed costs may negatively affect Mexico animal production in 2021, but sufficient domestic feed production is expected to help offset those increased costs. South Africa: Grain and Feed Annual   South Africa should remain a net exporter of corn in the 2021/22 MY on excess supplies. In the 2020/21 MY, South Africa should be able to increase corn exports by 40 percent to 3.5 million tons, after the production of a second consecutive bumper crop. Post forecasts an increase in the imports of wheat and wheaten products in the 2021/22 MY to 1.7 million tons due to an expected seven percent drop in wheat production. On the other hand, South Africa's imports of wheat and wheaten products in the 2020/21 MY is expected to drop by 20 percent to 1.6 million tons on a sharp increase in local wheat production. In the 2021/22 MY, South Africa's rice imports are expected to increase by one percent to 1.06 million tons on a marginal rise in demand. In the 2020/21 MY, Post estimates South Africa will import about 1.05 million tons of rice. Thailand: Grain and Feed Annual   Rice production and exports are expected to recover in 2022. MY2021/22 corn consumption is forecast to slow down due to a shrinking supply of locally produced corn and tighter supplies of imported corn from neighboring countries. MY2021/22 wheat imports are forecast to increase 3 percent in line with the expected gradual economic recovery in 2021 and 2022. Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly   Rice export prices declined 1-2 percent for all varieties as off-season rice supplies continued entering the market, putting downward pressure on domestic prices.   For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.     Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service · 1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, DC 20250