Browse Data and Analysis

On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Federal Registry published to the addition of “Article 216 Bis” to the General Health Law related to trans fats. The addendum will regulate the use of trans fats in food processing, mandating that the fatty acid content should not exceed 2 percent of the product’s total nutritional value.

Post estimates marketing year (MY) 2022/2024 soybean production at 875,000 metric tons (MT), the lowest level in sixteen years due to a historic drought affecting Uruguay and neighboring Argentina. As a result, Post reduces MY 2022/23 exports to 850,000 MT.

Wheat production in marketing year (MY) 2023-2024 is forecast to remain flat at 1.2 million metric tons. Production will remain flat despite a larger harvested area as Post projects a return to trend from high yields in the previous season.

Vietnam’s food processing and manufacturing sector grew by 8.8 percent in 2022 versus 2021, while food retail revenue increased by 10 percent.

Post forecasts MY 2023/24 wheat production at 3.3 million metric tons (MMT) and barley production at 1.4 MMT, in line with the previous season as climatic conditions are similar.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will implement the second release of its Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project in October 2023.

Following a review of aluminum in foods, Health Canada announced, on March 9, 2023, its intention to revise certain permitted uses of aluminum-containing food additives.

On March 7, 2023, the People's Republic of China (PRC) notified revised Maximum Levels (MLs) of Nitrite to the World Trade Organization (WTO) under G/SPS/N/CHN/1276.

On March 6, 2023, the federal government opened applications for six programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), Canada’s new iteration of its five-year farm policy framework.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed revisions to Japan’s maximum residue levels for 11 agricultural chemicals (Ametoctradin, Amisulbrom, Flumioxazin, Flupyradifurone, Glufosinate, Mefentrifluconazole, Metaldehyde, Simeconazole, Cefuroxime, Dicloxacillin, and Amprolium) for various agricultural commodities.

The drought in Andalucía is anticipated to prevent further expansion of Spain’s cotton area in MY 2023/24. Irrigation water allocation will be critical for farmer’s planting decisions, and temperatures and pest incidence during the summer months will also determine final yields.

The food processing is the fourth-largest industry in Germany. According to the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries' (BEV) estimates, total revenue of USD 20.7 billion were generated across all sectors in 2022, which is 17.9 percent higher than the previous year.