Browse Data and Analysis

The cotton production forecast for 2024/25 has been revised downward to 5.2 million bales, with the area unchanged at 2 million hectares.

After the 2023 outbreak of bluetongue disease in Europe, the bluetongue virus (BTV-3) has now spread to three Nordic countries. Denmark encountered the first case of bluetongue disease on August 9, Norway on September 6, and Sweden on September 12.

Since the previous report, Taiwan has granted new approvals for imports of genetically engineered (GE) products for processing, food, and feed use. Taiwan has never permitted domestic production of GE crops or animals. In 2023, Taiwan imported close to $930 million of U.S. crops including soybeans, corn, and cotton, accounting for 25 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the island.

In 2024, the Pakistan government issued revised Biosafety Rules and Regulations, creating a system to request genetically engineered (GE) commodity imports for food, feed, and processing (FFP). As of mid-October 2024, importers had submitted several applications to import GE soybeans for FFP.

Taiwan imports over 135,000 MT apples annually with domestic supply less than one percent. Post expects that MY 2024/2025 Taiwan apple imports will return to 145,000 MT with domestic supply stable at 1250 MT.

Starting in 2025, Taiwan will eliminate tariffs on liquid milk imports from New Zealand. Taiwan dairy farmers are worried about the future, as the primary dairy product in Taiwan is fresh milk, with only a small portion used for other dairy beverages or products.

The Norwegian Exporter Guide gives an overview for prospective U.S. exporters who would like to get acquainted with the Norwegian food retail and export market.

Retail food channels in Taiwan include convenience stores, supermarkets, and hypermarkets, which generated more than $25 billion in sales in 2023. The United States remains the leading supplier of consumer-oriented food and agricultural products to Taiwan.

With the outlook for the sugar industry largely unchanged from the previous report, no significant changes are made to the supply and demand tables.

No significant changes were made to the 2024/25 wheat supply and demand forecasts. Wheat imports and exports remain banned. The 2024/25 rice production forecast is unchanged at a record 10 million tons.

The 2024/25 cotton area estimate is revised downward to 2 million hectares due to a decrease in cultivation in key production areas of Punjab and Sindh. With the lower area, the production forecast is lowered to 5.55 million bales.

Typhoon Gaemi swept through Taiwan July 24-25, 2024, causing widespread flooding and damage to agriculture particularly in Southern part of Taiwan. The estimated loss - in crop, livestock and fish production - exceeds $86 million.