Browse Data and Analysis

The food processing industry in China continues to develop and expand, creating products for the most populous country of consumers with increasingly distinguished tastes. Nutritious and healthy options are popular, as are bakery products and beverages.

Post forecasts that consumption of corn and wheat in Malaysia will marginally increase in Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23, assuming an eventual stabilization of commodity prices following the disruption caused by the crisis in Ukraine.

The Japanese government announced they would reduce planned imports of butter to 7,600 metric tons (MT) in Japanese fiscal year (JFY) 2022 from 9,500 MT in the previous year while maintaining nonfat dry milk imports at 750 MT.

At a recent Beijing municipal press conference, authorities announced that effective April 1, 2022, imported cold-chain food products will be rejected if shipped into Beijing without prior inspection appointments at a Beijing Entry Checkpoint.

On March 30, 2022, the National Health Commission (NHC) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) released 17 draft National Food Safety Standards for domestic comment.

Korea has a strong food processing industry that manufactures a wide variety of food and beverage products. It also relies heavily on imports to fulfill its food and agricultural needs.

Philippine demand for imported high-quality food and beverage ingredients remains strong, despite supply chain disruptions, rising inflation, and logistical challenges.

Rice export prices remain unchanged despite the strengthening of the Thai baht.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 11 agricultural chemicals (Afidopyropen, Cyantraniliprole, Tetraniliprole, Picoxystrobin, Flufenoxuron, Pencycuron, Cyfluthrin, Ampicillin, Phenoxymethylpenicillin, Lubabegron, and Bacitracin) for various agricultural commodities.

A number of factors have converged over the last 18 months to send global agricultural commodity prices to near-record levels. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and the potential loss of Ukrainian exports – was the latest development to push commodity prices higher.

Post forecasts overall feed demand to decline by 2 percent in MY2022/23 as prices rise and additional contraction of the swine industry is anticipated. Corn for feed consumption in MY2022/23 is forecast up 2.8 percent, or 6 million metric tons (MMT). MY2022/23 corn, wheat, and rice production are all forecast down due to the push to increase oilseed production and weather conditions in major wheat growing areas.

Declining cases of COVID-19 globally and domestically are expected to increase overall demand for textile and textile products. Therefore, following an 8.2 percent decline in 2020/21, cotton imports are expected rebound by 12.7 percent to 2.6 million bales in 2021/22.