| The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Friday, April 9, 2021.
Beginning on April 1, 2021, the Government of Algeria (GoA) again extended the confinement measures through mid-April 2021. The pandemic along with the drop in oil earnings has placed Algeria in a difficult economic situation. As a result, the GoA launched an economic recovery plan for 2020- 2024.
Belgium: Belgium To Ban Palm and Soya Oil for Use in Biofuels from 2022 On March 22, 2021, the Belgian government notified the European Commission of a draft national decree transposing the EU Renewable Energy Directive. This draft decree creates a ban on biofuels and biogases from palm oil and soya oil on the Belgian market starting from January 1, 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Wood Products Report Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) wood industry has historically been one of the strongest sectors of its economy. It includes forestry, primary wood processing, and value-added production such as furniture, joinery, and cabinetry. Wood exports grew over the last ten years, reaching $760 million in 2020 and keeping a substantially positive overall trade balance. The United States is not currently among significant wood suppliers to BiH. Still, the demand for U.S. hardwood, especially walnut, is expected to grow with rising production and export of quality furniture.
China: Cotton and Products Annual China's marketing year (MY) 21/22 cotton imports are projected to increase slightly to 2.4 million metric tons (MMT) on higher consumption to meet textile and apparel demand. U.S. cotton exports to China totaled approximately 884,000 metric tons (MT) during the first seven months of MY20/21(August 2020–February 2021), up from 154,000 MT during the same period in the previous marketing year. Due to recovering domestic and international demand for Chinese textile and apparel products, China's cotton consumption is forecast at 8.5 MMT in MY21/22 compared to an estimated 8.2 MMT in MY20/21. MY21/2 production is forecast basically flat at 5.9 MMT based on lower yields and forecast acreage unchanged from the previous year.
Cote d'Ivoire: Cotton and Products Annual Post forecasts market year (MY) 2021/22 cotton fiber production will reach record levels for a fourth consecutive year, at 1.1 million bales (480 lb.). MY 2020/21 production is estimated at 1.0 million bales. Post projects MY 2021/22 exports will remain strong at 1.15 million bales. Exports in the current campaign are estimated to surge to a record 1.2 million bales as shipments of fiber cotton slowed in the latter half of MY 2019/20, resulting in a larger carryover stock level and greater exportable supply. These figures would firmly establish the country as the second-largest cotton producer and exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa through the MY 2021/22 campaign.
Ecuador: Grain and Feed Annual The Government of Ecuador has fully eliminated the support program for corn production, but continues to define the yearly minimum price for producers. This has contributed to the continuing decrease in corn area as farmers retire from non-productive areas or shift to other crops. Corn consumption remains similar to 2020, as the livestock and aquaculture sectors have recovered from an initial reduction due to COVID-19. Wheat imports continue to increase as aquaculture and other sectors such as pasta production and bakeries have increased their consumption. Rice production remains similar due to a slight reduction in planting area, an increase in yields, better production practices, and good weather conditions.
European Union: Changing EU Import Conditions for Composite Products U.S. exporters of composite products will face new documentary requirements for shipments to the European Union. Of immediate concern is the new mandatory export certificate needed for non shelf-stable goods that do not contain any meat and that contain less than 50 percent processed products of animal origin. This requirement applies to goods entering the European Union after April 21, 2021. This report also addresses the new importers private attestation and provides a time frame for all the further changes in EU requirements.
European Union: Review of the EU Policy on the Promotion of Agricultural Products As part of the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, the European Commission announced that it would review the European Union's policy on the promotion of agricultural products both inside and outside the Union. This review fits in the Commission's Green Deal efforts to promote more sustainable production and consumption of food. There are mixed reactions from stakeholders to this initiative.
This report is an overview of general legal and technical requirements imposed by Haiti for food and agricultural imports. The following sections of this report indicate the requirements for: Food Laws; Labeling Requirements; Packaging and Container requirements; Food Additive Regulations; Pesticides and Other Contaminants; Other Requirements, Regulations, and Registration measures; Other Specific Standards; Trademarks, Brand Names and Intellectual Property Rights; Import Procedures; and Trade Facility. In 2020, the Government of Haiti changed the import procedures under a new agreement with Government and Institution Services (SGS), a private contractor with the government that handles the verification of conformity and the valuation of imported products prior to unloading cargo at Haitian ports.
Haiti: FAIRS Export Certificate Report This report describes the major export certificates required by the Government of Haiti for imports of food and agricultural products. The following sections of this report indicate the certificates required for each category of products, including their purpose, the requesting ministry, and their outlines.
India: India Notifies Final Standards for Cereals and Varied Product The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India published in the Gazette of India on March 4, 2021 and on March 9 listed on its website the notification Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations ( 2021). Besides cereals and cereal products, the regulation covers a variety of food products and standards. The implementation date is January 1, 2022.
Japan: Japan Grants Equivalence Recognition to US-Graded Norway Spruce Lumber On March 31, 2021, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism expanded its recognition of American Lumber Standard Committee's (ALSC) grading of the Spruce-Pine-Fir South (SPFs) grouping to include U.S.-grown Norway spruce lumber. Now, U.S.-grown Norway spruce dimension lumber certified as SPFs by a U.S. grading agency no longer requires further approval prior to use in 2x4 construction in Japan. ALSC added U.S.-grown Norway spruce to its SPFs grouping in 2016.
Japan: MAFF Releases Interim Report on Green Food System Strategy Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) is developing a green food system strategy for agricultural, forestry, and fishery supply chains, with a 2050 timeline for implementation. Through the initiative, MAFF aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions, a reduction in pesticide and fertilizer use, the conversion of 25 percent of arable land to organic production, and a number of other sustainability targets. The strategy also calls for importers, both government and private sector, to prioritize suppliers that account for sustainability in their supply chains. MAFF recently published an interim report summarizing implementation strategies and key targets, but plans to rollout additional information throughout 2021, including at the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September.
Malaysia: Oilseeds and Products Annual Post estimates Malaysian crude palm oil (CPO) production in marketing year (MY) 2020/21 at 19.5 million metric tons (MT). This lower than expected increase over the previous year is due to a serious shortage of manual labor resulting from COVID-19 related border closures. In MY 2021/22, Post forecasts CPO production at 20.0 million MT. This increase is based on the assumption that the Malaysian government will open the border and industry will be able to recruit new laborers.
Mexico: Interinstitutional Agreement on Standard NOM-051 FOPL Compliance This report intends to inform U.S. processed foods and non-alcoholic beverage companies interested in the Mexican market about the additional implementations to the Front of Pack labeling that will start on April 1, 2021. The Interinstitutional Agreement for compliance with Standard NOM-051 was published on the Federal Registry on March 31. This report provides a courtesy translation of the Interinstitutional Agreement.
Mexico: Mexico Releases Clarifications on NOM-051 for Refurbished Products On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, Mexico's Secretariat of Economy released updated criteria for imported reconditioned products to comply with NOM-051-SCFI/SSA1-2010 - General Specifications for Labeling of Prepackaged Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. The documents seek to clarify that refurbished food and non-alcoholic beverage products not destined to the final consumer are exempted from complying with NOM-051.
Morocco: Grain and Feed Annual The 2021 crop season in Morocco is progressing under favorable conditions with timely and sufficient rainfalls. Post forecasts MY2021/22 production at 4.3 MMT for common wheat, 2 MMT for durum wheat, and 2.2 MMT for barley, resulting in steady import demand of 4.2 MMT total wheat and 0.4 MMT barley.
Nicaragua: Oilseeds and Products Annual For Marketing Year (MY) 2020/2021, Nicaragua's peanut production reached over 194,000 metric tons (mt), which is a 21 percent increase compared to the previous cycle. Peanut farmers reported an increase of 16 percent in planted area, equivalent to 6,200 hectares, after local banks resumed financing for peanut farming. The MY 2020/2021 peanut harvest did not suffer significant damage from Hurricanes ETA and IOTA, which battered Nicaragua in late 2020. For MY 2021/2022, Nicaraguan peanut farmers anticipate a five percent increase in planted area leading to production approaching 200,000 mt if favorable market conditions continue and local banks are willing to finance new production areas.
Wheat remains a minor crop in Peru and wheat imports in marketing year (MY) 2021/2022 are forecast at 2.2 million metric tons (MMT), with consumption slightly up. Corn consumption in MY 2021/2022 is also forecast to slightly increase to 5.5 MMT, while corn imports are forecast at 4 MMT. Rice production in MY 2021/2022 is forecast at 2.3 MMT (milled basis), with rice imports forecast at 270,000 metric tons.
Philippines: Food Processing Ingredients Following two years of contraction, the Philippine food manufacturing sector is expected to expand 1 percent in 2021. Household consumption expenditures of food and non-alcoholic beverages remain relatively strong, up 5.3 percent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2020. Philippine food manufacturing continues to offer excellent opportunities for a number of U.S. products, including but not limited to dairy, milling wheat, and raw materials for processed meat products.
Senegal: Cotton and Products Annual Marketing year (MY) 2021/22 (August to July) area for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal is expected to rebound 77 percent to 1.3 million HA compared to the previous year. Malian area is forecast to increase 324 percent due to the cessation a cotton producer boycott that drove planted area down to 165,000 HA in MY 2020/21. MY 2021/22 production is estimated to increase 87 percent to 2.31 million bales assuming Malian farmers will resume cultivating cotton after a season-long boycott, good rainfall, and low pest pressure. Even though ginning and collection activities are still ongoing, official contacts estimate MY 2020/21 area and production levels in Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal decreased 44 percent and 45 percent from the previous year to 739,000 HA and 1.24 million bales respectively, mostly due to significant decreases in Mali's area and production numbers. MY 2021/22 total exports are estimated at 2.26 million bales on expectations of higher demand and international market prices.
Rice export prices further declined 1-3 percent due to declining domestic prices and the continued depreciation of the Thai baht against the U.S. dollar.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
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Monday, April 12, 2021
GAIN Reports from Friday, April 9, 2021
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