| The following GAIN reports were released on April 3, 2025. _______ For MY 2025/26, Post forecasts cotton area to grow 2.9 percent compared to the current season, to 2.13 million hectares. Post also forecasts cotton production at a record 17.8 million bales (3.87 million metric tons (MMT)). Lower costs of production and competitive prices for export contribute to the increase. Yields are expected to increase slightly, about one percent due to positive impacts from La Nina. Post forecasts MY 2025/26 exports at 13.9 million bales (3 MMT), 3.7 percent more than the MY 2024/25 estimate at 13.4 million bales (2.9 MMT), due to increased supplies and expected reduced competition with U.S. cotton. Post forecasts domestic consumption at 3.4 million bales (740 MT), showing a slightly increase from the MY 2024/25 estimate. The Brazilian Food Processors' Association reported 2024 Brazilian food processing sector revenues at US$233 billion, a growth of 9.9 percent compared to the previous year. Brazil heavily relies on foreign suppliers to fulfill its food ingredient demands, which offers U.S. companies opportunities to provide high-value ingredients. Brazilian food manufacturers and ingredient importers seek innovative products from new suppliers. To learn more, contact us at atosaopaulo@usda.gov. Brazil's corn planted area and production for MY 2025/26 are expected to increase. Low stocks and strong demand led corn prices to high levels in the domestic market, growing producers' sowing outlooks. Corn exports are projected to increase in MY 2024/25 and remain stable in MY 2025/26, given the robust demand for corn internally. For the 2024/25 harvest, rice production is anticipated to be robust, encouraging high exports and supporting the 2025/26 planting. Wheat production in 2025/26 is forecast to reach its second-highest mark in history, following expectations of increased yields through higher crop investments. As a result, imports are forecast to decline based on less internal demand. Meanwhile, the 2024/25 wheat harvest is expected to decrease due to adverse weather affecting yields. Post forecasts MY 25/26 China corn production at 300 MMT, up 1.7 percent from MY 24/25, while corn imports are forecast at 8 MMT, lower than MY 23/24 levels due to China's focus on grain self-sufficiency. Wheat and rice production are expected to increase slightly on improved yields and stable planted area, while sorghum and barley imports are projected to decline based on a number of market and non-market factors. Industry analysts have shared that larger-scale stock rotations happen every three to five years and 2025 is scheduled to be a stock rotation year for some grains and oilseeds in China's national reserves. Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs on March 4, 2025 on 740 U.S. agricultural product tariff line items, including 15 percent on wheat and corn and 10 percent on sorghum. On March 27, 2025, China's National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) jointly released the General Principles for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2025). This standard is a mandatory national food safety standard that provides basic requirements for the labeling of domestic and imported prepackaged foods of all categories. China has announced a two-year transition period for the enforcement of the standard. The standard will enter into force on March 16, 2027. China notified the draft standard to the WTO on July 11, 2024. This report provides analysis of changes affecting imported products and an unofficial translation of the final standard. Stakeholders should conduct their own review of the regulation. Wheat consumption in the Dominican Republic (DR) during marketing year (MY) 2025/26 (July 2025/June 2026) is forecast to increase by two percent, reaching 520,000 metric tons (MT). Wheat imports are projected to reach 745,000 MT, driven by manufacturer international expansion plans and robust tourism growth. Meanwhile, as domestic corn production is expected to satisfy less than 5 percent of local consumption, corn imports for MY 2025/26 (October 2025/September 2026) are expected to climb to 1.67 million MT based on sustained strong demand from the poultry sector. The projection for milled rice production in MY 2025/26 (July 2025/June 2026) stands at 687,000 MT, up from the last MY. Conversely, rice imports are forecast down from the previous MY at 45,000 MT due to increased domestic production and new trade restrictions. Wheat production in marketing year (MY) 2025/26 (July-June) is projected at just over 10,000 metric tons (MT), a decline from the previous year. With only about 5,000 hectares (HA) dedicated to cultivation, Ecuador's wheat production is insufficient to meet domestic demand and thus dependent on imports. Corn production for MY 2025/26 (May-April) is expected to reach 1.30 million metric tons (MMT), a 16 percent decrease from the MY 2024/25 estimate due to a reduction of 120,000 harvested hectares. Rice production in MY 2025/26 is forecasted at 1.5 million metric tons (MMT), sustaining the same planted area of 280,000 hectares as in MY 2024. Sugar production and exports in Honduras are expected to increase in MY 2025/26, driven by higher yields, expanded harvest areas, and greater investment. Productivity improvements in MY 2024/25 were supported by modernization efforts, efficient irrigation, precision agriculture, and climate recovery initiatives. Projection for MY 2025/26 show a 3.4 increase in sugar production and 7.2 percent rise in exports. During this period, it is estimated that 56,000 hectares of sugarcane will be harvested, resulting in 5.4 million metric tons, with 194,000 metric tons of sugar centrifugal expected for export. Japan's vegetable oil and protein feed markets are mature and stable. While surging commodity prices and the shipping crisis impacted Japan's oilseed and product imports in the past, the situation has normalized. With imported oils like palm and olive oil becoming expensive, domestically crushed soybean and canola oils have gained a competitive price advantage. Consequently, crushers are expected to marginally increase crush volumes in MY 2024/25 and 2025/26, favoring soybean crush over rapeseed due to better crush margins. The production of domestically produced soybean meal and rapeseed meal is anticipated to rise, reducing Japan's imports of soybean meal. As of spring 2025, Japanese traders perceive uncertainty in global trade but remain willing to procure oilseeds and products opportunistically. Hokkaido's favorable weather in MY 2024/25 resulted in excellent food-grade soybean production; however, the food soybean market remains flat due to inflationary pressures. Mexico's gross domestic product (GDP) surpassed $1.8 trillion in 2024. The economy continues to grow, and it is driven by population growth, consumer demand for convenience, premium, and health-conscious products. The U.S. remains Mexico's top supplier of food ingredients, with bilateral agricultural trade reaching $79 billion in 2024. The food processing industry represented four percent of Mexico's GDP in 2024. Processed meat, dairy, and bakery goods dominate the sector, supported by strong consumer demand and ongoing product innovation. Leading companies like Grupo Bimbo, Coca-Cola, Sigma Alimentos, and Gruma shape the market. Mexico's proximity to the United States, robust trade agreements, dynamic industry landscape, and evolving consumer preferences, offer numerous opportunities for U.S. food ingredient exporters. FAS/Pretoria's Oilseeds and Products annual report provides information on the production, supply, and distribution for soybean, sunflowerseed, and rapeseed in South Africa for marketing year (MY) 2023/24, MY 2024/25, and MY 2025/26. Stable local demand for oilseed crushing and anticipated export opportunities should motivate producers to maintain level oilseed area in MY 2025/26. Despite major investments to expand oilseed processing capabilities in recent years, local production has exceeded crushing capacity, increasingly shifting excess oilseeds to export markets. MY 2025/26 consumption for oilseed meals and oils are expected to grow marginally, as South Africa's economic challenges depress demand. FAS/Seoul forecasts 2025 Korean cattle production and slaughter will drop to 951,000 head and 1,078,000 head respectively. FAS/Seoul forecasts 2025 beef imports to dip to 574,000 metric tons (MT). FAS/Seoul adjusts Korea's 2025 swine production downward by 2 percent year-over-year, to 1,427,000 MT, forecasting marginal declines in domestic swine slaughter and steady slaughter weights. FAS/Seoul forecasts 2025 pork imports to drop to 702,000 MT. MY 2025/26 soybean crushing demand to grow at a slower pace of two percent due to slow economic recovery with uncertainties from the U.S. reciprocal tariff measures. Palm oil supplies are likely to remain tight in MY 2024/25 and MY 2025/26 due to strong demand for biodiesel production as the government maintained the high levels of mandatory blend rate. Turkiye's MY 2025/26 wheat and barley production, most of which are grown without irrigation, are projected to decline year-on-year due to limited rainfall during the fall and winter months and prospects of more dry weather. Rice production is also predicted lower year-over-year due to worries over dry weather conditions and concerns over the availability of irrigation water, especially in the key rice growing area in northwest part of Turkiye. On the other hand, corn production is projected to increase from last year due to strong domestic prices and based on the expectation that farmers in corn-growing parts of the country will have sufficient access to irrigation water. With water resources under increasing pressure, the Turkish government recently instituted a new crop production plan that is designed to boost national food security while conserving water resources. As this program is still very new, it is not expected to have a visible impact on grain production in MY 2025/26. On March 31, 2025, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) issued Decree 73/2025/ND-CP, reducing the Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) import tariff rates on corn, soybean meal, ethanol, frozen chicken drumsticks, in-shell pistachios, almonds, fresh apples, cherries, and raisins. The decree takes effect immediately. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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