Browse Data and Analysis

Fresh fruit bunch (FBB) and kernel yields are expected to remain high in MY2024/25 due to stabilized fertilizer prices and a good weather forecast. In response to the growing domestic and export demands, MY2024/25 soybean production forecast has been raised by 16 percent over the preceding year’s estimate.

Zambia’s production of its staple crop, corn, is expected to drop by more than 50 percent in marketing year 2024/25, due to extended dry spells associated with the El Niño event. Almost a million hectares of corn have been destroyed by the drought that forced the Zambian President to declare a “National Disaster and Emergency”.

On April 1, 2024, Angola issued Presidential Legislative Decree No. 1/24 – a new Schedule for Customs Tariffs of Import and Export Duties. The new tariff schedule aims to generate more government revenue while also protecting domestic production.

The cold and wet winter of 2023 provided favorable conditions for deciduous fruit and aided in improved production volumes. Production is expected to grow and improve in quality from MY 2022/23 when fruit was affected by hail damage.

In 2023, according to Romania’s National Institute of Statistics (NIS), Romania imported $211 million of U.S. food and agricultural products, up nearly 11 percent compared to 2022. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's bulk, intermediate, and consumer oriented (BICO), U.S. suppliers shipped $79 million worth of food and agricultural products to Romania in 2023.

Previously exporters and importers of live animals and genetic materials only required a permit, but a new directive requires prior authorization from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Animal Production Directorate before applying for the permit.

Although extension of anti-dumping duties imposed on frozen bone-in poultry portions from the US would typically mean business as usual as these duties are rebated under the tariff rate quota, a current de-facto restriction on applying general tariff rebates to poultry imported under the TRQ makes the announcement more concerning than usual.

Ghana’s food processing industry is developing and remains a major importer of ingredients for food processing. These imports will continue to grow as the sector is unable to meet increased demand.

Senegalese cowpea production is estimated at 152,000 MT in the 2022/23 December- November marketing year (MY), a 36 percent decline from the previous year.

Nigeria maintains several lists of agricultural and related products prohibited from trade, including at least two export lists and one import list. The scope of many products on these lists is not always well described, leading to misinterpretation and confusion.

Governments’ support for inputs and rice production have lifted area harvested and yields, boosting production across much of the region. Marketing year (MY) 2024/25 area harvested for rice in Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali is projected up 1.7 percent year-over-year.

Kenya’s sugar production is expected to increase 40 percent in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 to 750,000 metric tons (MT) due to an increase in area harvested after the expiration of a ban on sugarcane harvesting issued by Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).