| The following GAIN reports were released on March 30, 2026. _______ On March 24, 2026, Australia and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiations on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) after eight years of negotiations that first commenced in 2018. Once the agreement is formally ratified and implemented, it will reshape the bilateral economic relationship by removing tariffs on 98 percent of Australian goods entering the EU market. Australia's manufacturing landscape is primarily led by the food, beverage, and grocery industries, which account for one-third of the country's total manufacturing output. In the 2023-24 period, the sector grew by 5 percent to US$112 billion. While the industry is composed mostly of small businesses and solo entrepreneurs by number, a small number of large corporations generate most of the sector's revenue and employment. In 2025, Australia's imports of consumer oriented agricultural products from the United States increased by 9 percent over the previous year to US$1.45 billion. The use of chemical fertilizers in Bangladesh has been increasing every year. Farmers often apply excessive amounts of major chemical fertilizers, which leads to soil health degradation and increases production costs. The Government of Bangladesh provides a large amount of subsidy on chemical fertilizers, including urea, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), and Muriate of Potash (MOP). The country is also heavily dependent on imports of these fertilizers, with very limited domestic production. Beijing's economy reached $743 billion in 2025, supported by being China's political and cultural capital with a highly educated population and international presence. The city remains a leading market for premium imported food, driven by competitive retail and food service sectors with strong digital consumption habits. Its logistics advantages and demand for high quality, health-oriented products make Beijing an important market for U.S. agricultural exporters. Although China is the world's largest market for alcoholic beverages, imported spirits currently account for a very small percent of domestic consumption. Younger adult consumers in China are a key target demographic for imported whiskey and brandy. U.S. spirits have a niche but stable consumer base, while opportunities exist in consumer education and differentiation. In 2025, China's imported spirits market showed stable volumes but declining value, as consumers traded down to lower-priced products amid economic pressure, with whisky remaining resilient, brandy weakening significantly, and other categories gradually diversifying demand. Germany's food processing industry is the fourth-largest industrial sector in the country. According to the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE), Germany produced an estimated USD 270.1 billion (EUR 232.7 billion) in processed food and beverages in 2024, representing a decline of 0.6 percent compared to 2023. As the world's third-largest importer of consumer-oriented agricultural products, Germany remains the most important market in Europe for foreign suppliers. Products with strong sales potential in the German market include nuts, distilled spirits and wine, organic products, fish and seafood, highly processed ingredients, ready meals, and food preparations, particularly those aligned with long-term consumer trends such as convenience, health, and sustainability. In calendar year 2025 (January- September) Ghana's imports of food processing ingredients climbed to an estimated $1.27 billion, up by 2.5 percent compared to 2024's total imports of $1.24 billion. The Ghanaian food processing industry is growing driven by population growth and shifting consumer lifestyles. Recently the Ghanian government rolled out new policies and initiatives to boost local production and value addition to Ghana's raw agricultural products. Ghana's food processing sector fuels imports; local production cannot keep pace with demand for convenience and ready-to-eat foods. as the sector is unable to meet local consumer demands. FAS Manila forecasts marginal growth in rice and corn production in Marketing Year (MY) 2026/27, supported by government investment and favorable dry season weather, but tempered by rising input costs and risk of natural disasters. Rice consumption is forecast to rise with population growth in MY 2026/27, while higher retail prices may limit demand growth. Imports are projected to increase to supplement domestic rice supply in MY 2026/27. Corn imports and total consumption are forecast to increase in MY 2026/27. Corn ending stock for MY2026/27 is also expected to increase due to higher stock carryover from MY 2025/26 and decreased feed demand from the hog industry. Wheat consumption is forecast to increase in MY 2026/27, driven by increased demand for milling and feed wheat, while total wheat imports may decline as feed wheat demand moderates. Wheat stocks are expected to decrease in MY 2026/27, reflecting reduced price competitiveness of imported feed wheat over imported corn. Poland is one of the largest agri-food industry producers in Central and Eastern Europe. In 2024, companies operating within this sector exported goods valued at over $61 billion, an increase of over 2.7 percent compared to 2023. The food processing industry accounted for 6 percent of Poland's total $917 billion gross domestic product. Strong growth in the Polish food processing sector in 2024 was stimulated by internal demand and exports. The most important segments in terms of value were meat, dairy, beverage, confectionary, bakery, and horticultural processing. Poland's total 2025 imports of food and agricultural products were valued at over $48 billion, with U.S. imports accounting for $888 million. U.S. ingredients with strong sales potential include tree nuts, dried fruit, fish (salmon and pollock) and seafood, highly processed, and functional ingredients. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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