Browse Data and Analysis

New Zealand has signed a free-trade deal with the United Arab Emirates - the fastest agreement the country has ever reached. After negotiations began in May, the country's trade negotiators concluded the deal in four months.

Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: Consul General Greg May and ATO Hong Kong Open the USA Pavilion and Welcome U.S. Exhibitors at Asia Fruit Logistica 2024; The U.S. Dairy Export Council Showcases the Diversity of U.S. Cheese to Hong Kong Buyers...

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to rebound 11 percent to 1.5 MMT in MY 2024/25 supported by favorable growing conditions in major production areas. Improved world supplies and changing dietary concepts will likely drive nut imports to continue rising.

FAS China forecasts commercial production of in-shell walnuts to rebound 11 percent to 1.5 MMT in MY 2024/25 supported by favorable growing conditions in major production areas. Improved world supplies and changing dietary concepts will likely drive nut imports to continue rising.

Post maintains Vietnam’s soybean meal consumption forecast for the marketing year (MY) 2023/24 at 5.85 million tons, aligned with feed consumption. It expects consumption to rise to 6.1 million tons in 2024/25 due to increased demand for animal and aquafeed.

FAS Manila forecasts 2025 chicken meat imports to grow slightly, reaching 480,000 MT as demand continues to outpace domestic supply. Chicken meat production in 2025 is expected to increase at 1.63 MMT ready-to-cook (RTC), up by about 4 percent year-on-year.

After strong growth in 2023, the food retail sector is expected to see moderate but positive growth in the remainder of 2024. Expansion of convenience stores and small format retail outlets continues, while premium supermarkets have also expanded.

The retail food sector is highly competitive in Singapore with no single country holding over 16 percent of the consumer-oriented products market share. Singapore’s economy is beginning to slow due to cost-of-living, inflation, and supply chain challenges.

Hong Kong’s food retail sales remained stable at $12.2 billion in 2023, however retailers face growing challenges as more budget-minded residents travel to mainland China to save on food purchases, leading to a 4.7 percent decline in food retail sales in the first seven months of 2024.

With the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, Post sees the retail sector growing five percent as modern retail stores continue to expand.

FAS/Bangkok (Post) forecasts MY 2024/25 sugar production to increase to 10.2 MMT. MY 2023/24 sugar exports are likely to decline 26 percent due to competition from Brazil. Post expects sugar exports to double in MY 2024/25 from MY 2023/24 in anticipation of tight exportable sugar supplies in the major exporting countries.

Indonesia’s growing youth population, middle class, and urbanization offer promising opportunities for U.S. exporters. The retail sector had sales totaling $103 billion in 2023 with increased demand from convenience stores and traditional stores.