| The following GAIN reports were released on July 2, 2021. _______ On June 9, 2021, the Federal Gazette (DOU) published Resolution RDC/Anvisa #541/2021, which modifies Resolution RDC/Anvisa #332/2019 that defines requirements for the usage of industrial trans-fat in foods. The new regulation will impact imports of consumer-oriented products into Brazil. For 2021/22, Post forecasts soybean planted area at 40.3 million hectares (ha), and production at 143.5 million metric tons (MMT), based on a yield of 3.56 mt per ha. Post revised up 2020/21 planted area estimate by 300,000 ha to 38.8 million ha, and the production estimate by 3 MMT, to a record-setting 137 MMT. Despite much handwringing over the delayed planting due to drought and then delayed harvest due to too much rain, Brazilian farmers collected their largest soybean harvest yet. Soybean exports in the 2021/22 are forecast at 94 MMT, shattering this season's expected record shipments of 87 MMT. Post forecasts 47.7 MMT of soybeans destined for processing in the 2021/22 MY, an increase of just over two percent on the 2020/21 estimate of 46.5 MMT. Soybean crush was lowered for the current season, owing to the slack in domestic demand for soybean oil. Caribbean imports of consumer-oriented products shrunk from $2.3 billion in 2019 to $2.1 billion in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet Caribbean retail grocery sales grew by an estimated 6 percent during the same period. While the decline in economic activity impacted Caribbean pocketbooks, lockdown orders (including the shuttering of all food service operations) forced a sudden shift in demand toward retail foods. Going forward, opportunities in the sector are expected to remain for U.S. suppliers seeking to take advantage of emerging retail trends. In MY2021/22 imports of U.S. Pacific Northwest (PNW) cherries are expected to pick up owing to improved supplies and enhanced marketing efforts. California cherries have seen increased competition from domestic cherries, which have an overlapping harvest season. On the whole, cherry imports are likely to slow down, in anticipation of reduced supplies from Chile following a particularly strong MY2020/21 season. China's peach and nectarine production is expected to rebound to 16 MMT in MY2021/22 from a failed crop last year due to frost damage. Cherry production is estimated to continue rising to 600,000 MT in MY2021/22 due to new fruit bearings. The European Union (EU) regulatory rules on food packaging were being updated and reviewed. On July 3, 2021, the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP) (Directive EU 2019/904) will enter into force. This report provides an overview of the most important rules within the Directive and other upcoming initiatives for food packaging as part of the European Green Deal and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Post adjusted the Marketing Year (MY) 2020/21 crude palm oil (CPO) production forecast down by 8,000 tons to 18.7 million tons. COVID-19 has caused acute labor shortages as the Government of Malaysia (GOM) halted the intake of new foreign workers indefinitely, while allowing foreign workers with expired work permits to return home, thus exaggerating the labor issues. Post revised the MY 2020/21 CPO export estimate to 16.85 million metric tons, a drop of 600,000 metric tons (MT) due to the recent increase in the price of CPO, relative to the price of soybeans, making palm oil less attractive than soybeans. In addition, the traditional export markets other than India, including China, the European Union, the United States, and Pakistan are replenishing their vegetable oil stocks at a slower pace than normal due to the slow recovery in demand for oil, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Mexico's dynamic retail sector delivered a breakout year for retailer and consumer adoption of digital platforms in response to economic and public health challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Retailers adapted to consumer preferences by pursuing an omnichannel marketing strategy serving customers at multiple Points of Sale and price points. Today Mexico's retailers offer integrated in-store and mobile app-based promotions, innovative store formats in convenient locations, and expanded offerings of versatile, value-oriented, and healthy product choices. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, Mexico is the United States' second-largest export market for food and agricultural products following Canada. Due to an uneven economic recovery and an ongoing public health situation, market conditions remain uncertain in Mexico's retail sector for the remainder of 2021. The modernization of the Philippine retail sector continues its acceleration under COVID-19 restrictions, which have greatly shifted consumer buying habits to choose upscale vendors and online solutions. With the continued plight of the food service sector, retail sales are expected to remain strong. In total, the market segment is expected to grow 10 percent in 2021. Singapore's food retail sector is highly developed and competitive. The industry is comprised of a range of large supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores, "mom and pop" traditional stores, and specialty retailers. Industry analysts report total retail food sales surpassed $7 billion USD in 2020. The sector is dominated by three key players: the NTUC Fair Price Cooperative, Dairy Farm Group, and Sheng Siong Supermarket Chain. Top prospective U.S. products for the sector include dairy, fresh fruit, processed vegetables, bakery goods, cereals and pasta, poultry, and beef products. On June 27, 2021, South Africa re-introduced the prohibition of the sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor products for 14 days due to the recent surge in COVID-19 infections. This is the fourth ban on liquor products since the start of lockdowns in March 2020. The 14-day prohibition will affect domestic sales and imports of liquor products, including United States exports. As a result, this may dampen the recovery and growth of U.S. liquor exports in 2021. Alcohol bans in 2020 contributed to U.S. liquor exports to South Africa falling by 46 percent to US$11.6 million. Some domestic industry associations are now challenging the national government in court due to the desperate state of the liquor industry, which is still trying to recover from the previous three alcohol bans. Export prices of all grades of rice remain unchanged. On June 30, 2021, the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued Circular 05/2021 Promulgating the Amendment 1:2021 of National Technical Regulation (NTR) 190: Maximum Allowable Levels (MLs) of Undesirable Substances in Animal Feed and Aqua Feed Ingredients. This Amendment removes the zero tolerance for Salmonella and maximum levels for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in feed ingredients of plant origin.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment