Browse Data and Analysis

On April 15, 2023, Poland introduced an entry ban on certain agri-food products from Ukraine, amid difficult economic situation of famers on a domestic market. Following intensive negotiations with the Ukrainian side, since April 21, 2023, transit of Ukrainian agricultural products through the Polish territory is allowed, while the import ban on agri-food goods from Ukraine is maintained until June 30, 2023.

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.

On April 14, 2023, the first outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in pigs in Poland in 2023 was announced. It is the first outbreak since September 2022, detected on a small backyard farm in Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia) province.

Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Deputy Prime Minister Henryk Kowalczyk resigned from the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday, April 5.

On March 22, 2023, the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed a draft Act on Special Arrangements to Improve the Supervision over Animal Health and Protection. The proposed legislation introduces several solutions on the protection, maintenance, treatment, and movement of animals.

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.