Browse Data and Analysis

In marketing year (MY) 2023/24, FAS/Cairo forecasts fresh orange exports to reach 2.0 million metric tons (MMT) up from 1.6 MMT in MY 2022/23.

Global events have contributed to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, high inflation, and a lack of foreign currency. Although Egypt had started to recover its tourism industry and economy after COVID-19, the Russian war in Ukraine contributed to a rise in food prices and a lack of forex.

The cane harvest and crushing continued through November in Brazil's main sugar-producing Center-South (CS) region with good weather and prices. Total sugar production is estimated at 41 million metric tons (MMT) for 2023/24. Exports are estimated at 32 MMT.

Brazil requires that imports and exports of animal-origin products be accompanied by certificate with animal health attestations and/or public health attestations. Import requirements are defined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and a certificate model has to be bilaterally negotiated before trade starts.

On December 3, 2023, Egypt’s General Organization of Veterinary Services (GOVS) published an official decree (Decision Number 1 2023) in the Egyptian Gazette for registration procedures for companies providing certifications for halal food.

On December 8, 2023, the Government of Egypt filed a seventh addendum to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) – G/TBT/N/EGY/313/Add.7 – extending the requirement for halal certification for imported milk and dairy products until December 31, 2024. This deadline has been extended several times already.

The Food and Agricultural Imports Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) report provides an overview of the food laws and regulatory environment in Brazil as it relates to food and agricultural exports.

Brazil is the second-largest producer of biotech crops in the world with 105 events approved. For the 2022/2023 crop season, FAS Brasilia forecasts 68 million hectares planted with GE traits. Adoption rates for soybeans and cotton reached 99 percent and for corn, 95 percent.

The planting of GE crops in Egypt is currently not authorized as there is no biosafety legal framework in place. The absence of a legal biosafety framework impedes field trials and commercialization of GE crops.

Following USDA’s revision of Brazil’s cotton balance sheet, production estimates moved one year ahead, meaning that Marketing Year (MY) 2023/24 cotton is equivalent to production bales entering the market in 2023, and not 2024. Post maintained its...