Browse Data and Analysis

Post projects Ukraine’s walnut production decreasing to 95,500 metric tons (MT) for marketing year (MY) 2022/23 based on a combination of suboptimal weather conditions and some production areas in Russian occupied areas. Exports were slow for two consecutive marketing years (MY) in a row: MY2020/21 – because of quality issues and administrative barriers by Turkey; and MY2021/22 – due to constrained logistics stemming from Russia’s invasion.

Sri Lanka’s market year (MY) 2021/2022 (October-September) rough rice production of 2.57 million metric tons (MMT) was sharply lower, severely disrupted by the Sri Lankan government’s banning of chemical fertilizer imports.

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.

Posts forecasts that marketing year (MY) 2022/23 rice production will increase for the third consecutive year due to available water supply and abundant precipitation. High prices of chemical fertilizers and other inputs will likely impact corn production and yield as farmers apply less chemical fertilizer this season.

Many Turkish cattle farmers are struggling to make ends meet because input costs, especially feed, are increasing at a faster pace than farmgate prices for carcass meat and milk. As a result, many farmers are cutting their losses and sending their animals to slaughter earlier than normal. This trend is expected to continue into 2023 as economic conditions in the country remain bleak.

This report focuses specifically on Turkey’s production of sultana raisins, which are a dried seedless grape variety indigenous to the Aegean region of Turkey and are grown mostly in the regions of Manisa, Izmir, and Denizli.

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.

The total cherry production forecast in Turkey in Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 is 980,000 metric tons (MT), which is 14 percent more than MY 2021/2022, due to the favorable weather conditions and improved yields this year. The peach and nectarine production forecast for MY 2022/23 is 940,000 around six percent more than MY 2021/22, again due to no frost damage and enough rainfall for this year's crop.

• 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.