Polyester and other chemical fibres are expected to keep dominating textile fibre demand through 2034, according to the OECD-FAO outlook. Cotton mill use is forecast to rise by about 1.2% annually, but synthetic fibres, competitive pricing and recycling will limit its gains.
India is the world’s largest cotton producer, yet Bangladesh and Vietnam are well ahead in garment exports. The gap highlights the limits of relying on raw-material strength when competitiveness in synthetic fibers and finished clothing remains weaker.
Nearly 0.5 million tonnes of Indian basmati rice are stuck at ports as traffic through the Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. The bottleneck, tied to the unresolved US-Iran dispute, is set to raise the price of Indian rice for foreign buyers.
Myanmar’s sugar industry expects export volumes could fall in 2026 as global sugar prices weaken and demand remains subdued. The outlook raises pressure on mills, cane growers and exporters, although no volume forecast was disclosed.
Romania’s automotive workforce fell to 132,000 in April 2026 after the industry shed more than 18,000 jobs since January 2025. Lower European orders, rising production costs and weaker demand in China are putting vehicle and component manufacturers under pressure.
South Korea is advancing sanitary clearance for beef from Germany, Poland, Spain, Belgium and Sweden while pursuing CPTPP membership. A Korea Rural Economic Institute study estimates that EU beef imports could reduce domestic beef cattle production value by an annual average of 2.9 billion–6.7 billion won during 2026–2035.
Saudi Arabia will allow Thai poultry businesses undergoing Saudi GAP certification to continue exporting under specified conditions. Enforcement for farms, slaughterhouses and processing plants has been postponed until March 17, 2027.
Indonesia plans to use the IEU-CEPA trade agreement to expand cocoa exports to the European Union. The agreement is targeted for signing in September 2026 and would gradually reduce EU import tariffs on Indonesian cocoa products to zero by 2031.
Indonesia expects its Free Nutritious Meal program to create stable demand for domestic agricultural and livestock products. The government says the program’s millions of daily portions could absorb surplus milk, vegetables and other foods that might otherwise go to waste.
Rosselkhoznadzor has asked Kazakhstan to suspend shipments of food-grade sunflower to Russia until January 1, 2027, after authorities uncovered an alleged illegal seed distribution operation. Russian researchers warn that counterfeit planting material can reduce yields and introduce plant diseases or quarantine weeds.
Cosmetics first placed on the EU market from August 1, 2026, must comply with expanded fragrance allergen disclosure rules. Regulation (EU) 2023/1545 raises the number of individually declared substances from 24 to 81 while retaining existing concentration thresholds.
Spain has restored its strategic petroleum reserves to more than 100 days of consumption after earlier extraordinary releases. The stock level now exceeds the mandatory 92-day threshold, giving the country an additional supply buffer.
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