GAIN Reports from Friday, March 5, 2021

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Friday, March 5, 2021.   China: China notifies ASF outbreak in Xinjiang On February 22, 2021, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) notified the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that on February 12, 2021, China detected African Swine Fever (ASF) in live hogs in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). China notified this ASF outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and is continuing to monitor the situation. China: China Notified Draft National Food Safety Standard for Soybeans The draft Chinese soybean standard contains changes on quality requirements and adds an additional grade for soybeans. This standard, once implemented, will replace the current National Standard for Soybeans, GB 1352-2009 of September 1, 2009. Unlike the current standard, in which only clauses 5.1, 7.1 and 8 are mandatory, the entirety of the proposed new standard is mandatory. The standard specifies the terms and definitions, classification, quality requirements, test methods, inspection rules, labeling, packaging, storage, and transportation requirements for soybeans. The standard is applicable to the purchase, storage, transportation, processing, and sale of commercial soybeans. China notified the new standard to the WTO on February 8, 2021 and requests comments by April 9, 2021. Comments can be sent to tbt@customs.gov.cn. This report contains an unofficial translation of the draft standard. South Korea: Beer Market Report U.S. beer exports to South Korea totaled $35 million in 2020, up 3 percent from the previous year. Overall Korean beer imports, in contrast, declined 19 percent to $227 million due to weak on-premise sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Korean government adopted a volume-based liquor tax for beer on January 1, 2020, which reduces the tax burden for higher quality beers, including imported U.S. craft beer. The tax change along with increased Korean consumer demand for quality and diversity should generate growth opportunities for U.S. beer exports to Korea in coming years. South Korea: Oilseeds and Products Annual MY 2021/22 Korean soybean production and consumption is projected to remain mostly unchanged from the prior year, amid stagnant domestic production and flat consumer demand, following a small decline in 2020/21. 2021/22 soybean imports are also expected to hold steady, after a small in increase in 2020/21. Korea resumed the use of soybean oil in biodiesel production in 2019 and soybean oil imports are expected to rise moderately over the next few years, with expanding U.S. market share. COVID-19 has created greater demand of soybean oil to produce mayonnaise for both home consumption and home meal replacement (HMR). Thailand: Rice Price - Weekly Rice export prices further declined 2-3 percent as off-season rice supplies started entering the market.   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