Browse Data and Analysis

Central Asia is a diverse, important corner of the world and a growing market for U.S. goods. Agricultural imports from the world for Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan totaled $11.6 billion in 2023 and have nearly doubled over the last three years, with the United States as the 11th largest trade partner at $196 million.

Since December 2022, rainfall across most of Iraq has been positive, expected to result in favorable yields and increased production for winter crops wheat and barley, with rice expected to rebound this summer for marketing year (MY) 2023/24.

On May 17, the Government of Iraq (GOI) announced higher purchase prices for locally-produced wheat in an effort to incentivize farmers to market their crop to the Ministry of Trade. On June 8, the GOI also passed a food security bill that allows the government to use public funds to meet urgent food needs, including issuing tenders to import wheat.

Continued drought and water shortages is affecting economic activities in Iraq, especially grain production in 2022. The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture cut agricultural cropping in irrigated areas to 50 percent less than the previous year due to shortages in surface water.

The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture recently released its 2021 plans for total planted area of summer crops – corn and rice – following approval by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Effective April 15, Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture issued a number of decisions to restrict the transshipment of wheat and barley inside Iraq to limit the entry of crops from unknown sources.

On Thursday, February 25, 2021, the Flemish Council for Permit Disputes (RvVB) faulted the Flemish nitrogen emission control program (PAS in Dutch), rejecting a demand for a new poultry barn permit...

On March 10, 2021, the Belgian retail group Colruyt announced that it would launch the Eco-Score for products of its private label brand.

Belgium is a Member State of the European Union (EU) and applies the certification requirements described in the European Union Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS)...

In marketing year (MY) 2019/20, Bulgaria’s total fresh deciduous fruit crop declined by seven percent. Apple production decreased by 13 percent from MY 2018/19, as unfavorable weather conditions...

For the third year in a row since the European ban on use of neonicotinoids from 2018, Belgium will grant a derogation for sugar beet.

On November 20, 2020, the European Commission declared Belgium free of African Swine Fever (ASF), one year after the last finding of an ASF infection.