Browse Data and Analysis

The Indian market remains a bright spot, as its economic growth continues in 2023. India is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world despite the volatile geopolitical and economic conditions, India is on an upward trajectory.

No significant changes are made to 2023/24 rice and wheat supply and demand forecasts. Private sector wheat import commitments of about 1.4 million tons underpin the 2 million ton 2023/24 wheat import forecast.

Pakistan is the 24th largest export market for U.S. food and agricultural-related products, with U.S. exports surpassing $1.37 billion in 2022. The top U.S. exports to Pakistan were cotton, soybeans, pulses, tree nuts, dairy products, planting seeds, dairy cattle, and forestry products.

In March 2021, Kazakhstan put in place a ban on breeding cattle and ram exports. The ban remains in place. An annual, per operation export quota has been added for exports of bulls of 12-months of age or older and rams of 6-months of age or older; the quota is regularly updated.

Uzbekistan’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is estimated at 621,000 metric tons (MT) (2.85 million bales). Cotton consumption in MY 2023/24 is forecast lower year-to-year at 599,000 MT (2.75 million bales) due to lower demand from importer countries like Turkiye and Russia for cotton yarn and fabric.

In a first of its kind, FAS New Delhi (Post) coordinated an Indian Buyers Mission to this year’s biennial ANUGA Food Fair 2023 (ANUGA) trade show (October 7-11, 2023, Cologne, Germany).

On November 28, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published Order F. No: TIC-B02/3/2023-IMPORTS-FSSAI. This FSSAI order allows for the rectification of all non-compliant labels on imported food consignments at the port-of-entry.

Planting of India’s rabi season (i.e., winter sown, spring harvested) crops is progressing somewhat slower than anticipated due to relatively dry soil moisture conditions.

India remains undecided on genetically engineered (GE) crops and products derived from biotechnology (biotech) for food and feed use.

On December 7, 2023, the Veterinary Service at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic informed the U.S. Department of Agriculture in writing that they will no longer accept the U.S. Department of Agriculture's, Food Safety Inspection Service, 9060-5 Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness. USDA is actively working to resolve this issue.

FAS New Delhi’s forecast for India’s soybean oilseed production for marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is revised to 12 million metric tons (MMT), slightly lower than the MY 2022/23 at 12.4 MMT which accounts for the impact of the El Nino weather pattern.

On 24 November, the Federal Cabinet approved amendments to the National Biosafety Rules, which should enable genetically engineered soybean imports to resume in the first half of calendar year 2024. As a result, the 2023/24 soybean import forecast is...