Browse Data and Analysis

The industrial demand for sugar beets continues to rise, as it provides a higher price, thus incentivizing many farmers to plant more beets. In marketing year (MY) 2022/23 the sugar beets were subject to an outbreak of Rhizomania disease.

Egyptian traders and crushers continue to demand sustainability and quality of supply, both of which are key features of U.S.-origin soybean. This demand produced another record year for U.S.-origin soybean exports to Egypt with 4.07 MMT in exports, was by far Egypt’s largest supplier of soybeans in marketing year 2021/22.

Like many countries in the world, Egypt has been greatly affected by the Russian war on Ukraine, which has caused strain on the Egyptian economy. In 2022, the Egyptian government struggled to rein in inflation caused by rising food and energy prices. In October 2022, Egypt decided to sharply devalue the currency by the end of 2022, inflation reached almost 22 percent.

The government of Egypt has yet to publish or notify an official statement regarding the application of halal certification on dairy past the April 1 deadline. However, the industry reports that another extension from fees has been granted for as much as a year.

The March 2023 Essential Food Price Monitoring Report published by South Africa’s Competition Commission provided a deep dive into the poultry value chain.

South Africa has experienced an upsurge in oilseed plantings over the past 20 years with a near nine-fold expansion in soybean area. Post foresees that the positive trend in soybean plantings will continue in marketing year 2023/24 with area and oilseed production reaching historically high level of 1.8 million hectares and 3.6 million metric tons, respectively.

FAS Cairo (Post) forecasts Egypt’s wheat imports in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 (July – June) to increase by almost 2.9 percent from the previous marketing year due to population growth.

South Africa is on course to produce a fourth consecutive bumper corn crop in MY 2022/23, which creates a bearish outlook on local corn prices and will limit growth in the area to be planted with corn in MY2023/24.

This report provides more information on the South African food processing sector, including strategies for U.S. exporters interested in entering the market.