| The following GAIN reports were released on April 15, 2025. _______ On March 27, 2025, the People's Republic of China's (China's) National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly released the final National Food Safety Standard Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants (GB 25596-2025) applicable for infants aged 0 to 12 months, and it will enter into force on March 16, 2027. China notified the draft standard to the WTO on March 6, 2023. This report provides unofficial translation of the final standard. Stakeholders should conduct their own review of the regulation. The General Office of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the "Special Action Plan to Boost Consumption" in March 2025. The Plan aims to stimulate consumer spending and expand domestic demand. These measures could stimulate household consumption on food including imported food. These measures are a high-level policy signal and, if implemented, could have an effect on food and agricultural product consumption. Ecuador's sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 is forecast to reach 513,000 metric tons (MT), a decrease from MY 2023/24 estimate. Domestic consumption is forecast to remain stable with gradual increases expected in the coming years. Ethanol production is not expected to increase in the near to mid-term, industry is not able to cover the Ethanol demand to comply with the blend rate of 10 percent needed for ECOPAIS gasoline, opening the demand for imported ethanol. FAS/Cairo (Post) forecasts Egypt's soybean imports in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 (October – September) to increase by 5.0 percent from the previous marketing driven by a flexible exchange rate, the availability of forex and a more positive outlook for the livestock sectors. U.S.-origin soybean exports to Egypt accounted for almost 70.0 percent of the total beans exported to Egypt during the past five marketing years. U.S. beans are likely to continue to lead the soybean market in Egypt during the forecasted period due to increased demand of higher quality meal incorporated in feed rations and high-quality soybean oil. Overall feed use of oilseed meals is also forecasted up, driven by demand from end users. Higher levels of sunflowerseed oil consumption and trade in the forecasted and current marketing years is mainly driven by lack of local production and higher consumption. Difficult growing conditions and a contracting domestic industry continue to pressure Greek cotton farmers and further its reliance on government subsidies for survival. Greece's MY 2025/26 cotton production is forecast at 1.02 million bales, down 5.5 percent from the previous season due to lower planting. Despite lower global demand, Greece remains a major cotton exporter and was ranked 6th largest global exporter after Brazil, the United States, Australia, India, and Turkey in 2024. With a declining domestic spinning industry, Greek farmers and ginners will continue to seek foreign market destinations to generate sales. In MY 2023/24, Guatemala ranked as the world's second most efficient sugarcane producer and fourth in overall sugar production efficiency. For MY 2025/26, production is forecast to remain steady, with planted and harvested areas unchanged from the previous two years, and growth expected in MY 2026/27. In MY 2024/25, refined sugar exports are projected to more than double raw sugar exports, as sugar mills continue expanding their refinery capacity. The United States remains Guatemala's primary trading partner for sugar from sugarcane. India's fiber market is dominated by cotton, however, increased international demand for sustainable fibers is driving apparel and textile manufacturers to utilize hemp. While domestic cultivation is highly regulated, with only six states currently producing, the importation of fiber and yarn to meet export commitments is necessary. From January through November 2024, India imported 321 metric tons of processed hemp fiber valued at $2.1 million, with trade sources estimating textiles at approximately $30 million. Sugar production in 2025/26 is projected to reach 6.6 million tons, which is 13.7 percent higher than the 2024/25 estimated production. This increase is based on expectations for improved sugar content and average cane yield. With population growth and increased demand from the food processing sector, some growth in sugar consumption is anticipated. Given the expected tight supply situation and decline in stocks, the government is unlikely to allow exports, and the export forecast for 2025/26 is only 50,000 tons. Sugar cane production in MY 2026 is forecast at 10.25 million metric tons while cane sugar production is forecast to reach 1.3 MMT. Sugar exports from Peru in MY 2026 are forecast at 150,000 MT while the United States is the principal destination under the U.S. sugar tariff-rate quota program. The UK government is committed to signing a new Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement with the EU to ease post-Brexit trading frictions, but depending on the type of deal agreed, it may impact the UK's ability to negotiate future Free Trade Agreements. This report explores the background to a possible agreement and the significance of the specific aspects of any potential deal. Vietnam's livestock and aquaculture sectors expanded in Calendar Year (CY) 2024 on steady economic growth and lower feed prices. Feed importers have increased purchases and diversified suppliers. This trend is expected to continue in CY2025. Rice exports reached record levels in 2024, but exports are forecast to decline in the coming year due to increased competition. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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