Argentina: Dairy and Products Annual

2022 Argentine dairy production is projected at the same level with respect to 2021 or with a drop of less than one percent year-on-year to 11.495,000 MT, due to abnormally dry and warm weather during the first half of the year which is expected to continue until the end of the year. Post forecasts Whole Milk Powder (WMP) production to rise to 245,000 MT in a recessionary domestic market with stable production compared to 2021, which would result in a higher export balance. As Argentine consumers struggle to maintain already decreased household dairy consumption in face of very high inflation, the entire increase in processed product will be exported, which would bring exports of WMP to 155,000 MT. The Russia-Ukraine war created a challenge for cheese and butter exporters to Russia. Since the beginning of the war, sales to that destination fell sharply, although operations are still being carried out and it is expected that the trend will continue during the rest of 2022.

Argentina: Oilseeds and Products Update

According to the Argentine government, farmers sold a record volume of soybeans, more than 13.7 million metric tons (MMT) in September, after the government offered a special exchange rate for producers. As a result, exporters booked nearly 4 MMT in export declarations, with China as the principal destination. Post raises projected MY 2021/22 soybean exports to 5.5 MMT and reduces projected crush to 37.5 MMT. Soybean ending stocks are lowered to 5.7 MMT, the lowest level since MY 2012/13. MY 2022/23 production is lowered to 49 MMT, due to lower than anticipated area switching from corn to soybeans. However, farmers may still make changes if dry weather persists. MY 2022/23 sunflower planted area is lowered 100,000 HA to 1.9 million HA due to dry conditions in northern Argentina, lowering total production to 3.8 MMT. This would still be a 13 percent increase of 2021/22.

Colombia: Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional

Although the Hotel Restaurant Institutional (HRI) sector in Colombia performed better in 2021, compared to 2020, the sector still faced challenges that hindered a full recovery from the pandemic, including social unrest and high food prices. U.S. exporters face new market conditions in Colombia, resulting from changes in consumer habits and preferences that happened as a result of the pandemic. In 2021, the lodging and restaurants sector grew 60 percent following a 28 percent decline in 2020, increasing its share of Colombia's economic activity from 3 percent in 2020 to 4.3 percent in 2021.

Guatemala: Improved Regulations for Poultry Meat Exports to Guatemala

In June 2022 the Government of Guatemala confirmed that poultry products exported to Guatemala no longer need the USDA export mark on every box, and instead USDA can apply the mark on every consignment, pallet, or transportation unit. This has resulted in more efficient export clearance times with reduced labor, dock space and loading time which ultimately translates into better poultry prices for consumers.

Honduras: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report

The National Plant, Animal Health and Food Safety Service (SENASA) is the regulatory agency in Honduras who is responsible for the inspection of all agricultural products that enter Honduras. The Sanitary Regulation Agency (Agencia de Regulacion Sanitaria-ARSA) is in charge of product registration, authorizations for import of raw materials and additives for food processing, surveillance, and inspection of food products approved for sale in the retail or wholesale market in Honduras. The certificates requested by these two agencies are described in this report.

Japan: Japan Increases Butter imports in JFY2022

On September 30th, in a revision to its January announcement, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries affirmed that it will increase the tariff-rate quota volumes for butter to 9,788 MT but will hold non-fat dry milk (NFDM) at 750 MT for Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2021. Total planned imports are estimated to be about 137,000 MT (milk equivalent).

Malaysia: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report

This report provides information on the export certification requirements of the Government of Malaysia. This report supplements the Malaysia Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) – Country Report 2022.

Malaysia: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report

This report provides information on the regulations and procedures for the importation of food and agricultural products from the United States to Malaysia. The report is supplemented by the Malaysia Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) – Export Certificate Report 2022.

Malaysia: Malaysia Ratification of CPTPP

Malaysia ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Friday, September 30, 2022, becoming the ninth out of eleven countries to ratify the agreement.

Mexico: Sugar Semi-annual

FAS-Mexico forecasts a nearly 6 percent decrease in sugar production to 6.16 million metric tons raw value (MMT-RV) during marketing year (MY) 2022/23 due to lower rainfall levels and higher input prices. Production for MY2021/22 increased by 8.2 percent to 6.56 MMT-RV, mainly driven by an abundance of rainfall during critical growing months, lower input costs, and historically high prices creating incentives to maintain planted area.

Singapore: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report

This report discusses food and agricultural export product certificates currently required by the Singapore Government.

Singapore: Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report

This report provides information on the regulations and procedures for the importation of food and agricultural products from the United States to Singapore. Updates in this report include modifications to the Singapore Food Regulations (guidelines governing imported food). Of particular interest to the U.S. meat industry is the Food (Amendment) Regulations 2022 that govern the provisions for the use of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs) on raw meat, including the addition of the Seventeenth Schedule that lists approved PRTs and their maximum permitted levels.