Browse Data and Analysis

Taiwan exported $511 million of agricultural & related products to the U.S. in 1st Half 2022 out of $ 2.8 billion of total exports. Despite total exports declining by 7 percent year-on-year, exports to the U.S. increased 14 percent.

The retail sector in El Salvador has remained strong and stable, with new outlets opening and new online shopping options. Super Selectos is the largest supermarket chain, followed by Walmart which in January 2022 announced it is considering the sale of its outlet stores in El Salvador. Imports of U.S. consumer-oriented products reached a record-high of $267 million in 2021.

On August 18, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued clarification (No. TIC-20012/2/2021-IMPORTS-FSSAI) that its requirement for AGMARK (an Indian certification mark), prior to import of blended edible vegetable oils (BEVO), is kept in abeyance (suspended) until further notice.

On August 16, 2022, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued Clarification No. 1831/Misc./FSSAI/Imports/2022 pertaining to microbial testing requirements for imported food products.

U.S. exporters can find ample opportunities in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is the third-largest European Union (EU) destination for U.S. agricultural products, with Portugal ranking 11th. In 2021, the United States exported $1.6 billion of agricultural products to Spain, or 15 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the EU. The United States held a 4 percent market share of Spain’s agricultural imports and 2 percent market share in Portugal, behind other EU member states as a group and Brazil.

The outcomes of COVID-19 pandemic have undeniably changed the gastronomic habits in Europe for the foreseeable future. Behaviors that developed over the lockdown months are continuing to shape purchasing preferences of German consumers.

Japan's decline in farmland, combined with a shortage of agricultural labor, changes in consumer diets, and the opening of the Japanese market, have boosted imports of many agricultural products. This report looks at the long terms trends in production area and agricultural production in Japan, and its impact on agricultural trade.

On August 3-5, 2022, the World Apple and Pear Association (WAPA) presented the 2022 EU apple and pear crop forecast at the 47th edition of the Prognosfruit convention. WAPA forecasts the 2022 EU fresh apples crop at 12.2 million metric tons (MT), 1.3 percent above the 2021 harvest and nine percent higher than the average of the preceding three years.

On May 16, the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) issued Decision of Board of Directors No. 6/2022 concerning the binding technical basis for maximum residue levels (MRLs) for chemical contaminants in food, made effective the day following its publication in the Egyptian Chronicles.

On December 19, 2021, Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) released Decision No. 10/2021, the Provisions of Recognition of the Control System Applied by the Exporting Country Competent Authorities in the Context of Imported Food Control. The decision was made effective the day following its publication in the Egyptian Chronicles – Annex 1: unofficial translation is included herein.

• Israel passes amendments to the Public Health Protection Act (Food) to ease and reduce the regulatory burden on food importation. Among the amendments is an importation track called the “European Track” which will come into force on January 1, 2023. • New temporary provision easing the importation of certain sensitive foods, “Public Health Protection Act Food (Certificate of Release for Certain Sensitive Foods) (Temporary Provision)- 2022.” • Cancellation of the additional requirements for importing and releasing food products imported without direct contact with the manufacturer.

The report lists and describes certificates that should accompany food and agricultural products to Israel. It also includes the purpose of each certificate and the governmental agency responsible. In general, an original invoice, bill of lading, packing list, weighing list, health certificate, batch number certificate, invoice declaration, and insurance certificate are required to accompany any shipment. An export certificate matrix is included in this report.