Browse Data and Analysis

Post forecasts production for marketing year (MY) 2024/25 at 0.89 million 480-lb bales, a similar level as in MY 2023/24. The planting area is expected to decrease due to farmers switching to more profitable crops, drought conditions, and limited access to water from dams.

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

The planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops is currently not authorized and there is no biosafety legal framework in place in Egypt. The absence of a biosafety framework contributes directly to a lack of public awareness, funding, and trust in agricultural biotechnology.

In terms of total volume, Mexico´s marketing year (MY) 2024/25 total deciduous fruit production is forecast nearly unchanged, with a small decline in pear production mostly offset by minor growth in apple and table grape production.

This document provides an overview of major Mexican agricultural and food-product laws and regulations, as well as related import standards and regulations.

Egyptian table grape production is forecast to increase to 1.59 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 (October 2024 through September 2025).

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.

The competent Mexican authorities which regulate food and agricultural imports and/or require official U.S. export certificates include the Secretariat of Agriculture (SADER), Secretariat of Health (SALUD), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and the Secretariat of the Treasury and Public Credit (HACIENDA) No significant changes occurred vis-à-vis Mexican import standards and regulations in 2023.

Mexico’s dairy market is forecast to expand in 2025. Higher milk and dairy ingredient availability are expected to increase domestic cheese and butter production.

Mexico’s retail sector remains a dynamic industry with sales reaching $78.4 billion in 2023. Although the majority of consumers still turn to traditional markets, modern chains like Walmart and Soriana continue to attract middle and high-income consumers.

Mexico’s 2024 peach production is forecast at 266,400 metric tons (MT), a three percent increase over 2023, driven by steady domestic demand and minimal exports.

On September 19, 2024, the Government of Egypt filed an eighth addendum to the World Trade Organization's (WTO’s) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) -- G/TBT/N/EGY/313/Add.8 -- informing interested parties that the time period during which imported milk and dairy products that are not accompanied by a Halal certificate will be permitted to enter Egypt has been extended until December 31, 2025.