Members of Japan's ruling LDP are discussing whether to allow imports of fresh US table potatoes, a step long banned over pest concerns. Nikkei reports the move could serve as a concession to ease Trump administration tariff pressure. Processing-grade and frozen potatoes are already permitted.
CSIRO and AEMO modelling projects Australia’s electricity generation costs will rise to an average of $125 per megawatt hour by 2050 as ageing coal plants are replaced. Renewables are expected to dominate the grid, but higher equipment costs and a slower-than-required project pipeline are complicating the transition.
Canfor will permanently close its Northwood pulp mill in Prince George, British Columbia, after an orderly wind-down expected to end in late Q4 2026. The decision will remove about 300,000 tonnes of annual NBSK pulp capacity and directly affect approximately 300 employees.
Frozen ice cream was the most dynamic grocery category in France in the first half of 2026, up 6.1% in value and 4.5% in volume, according to Circana. Hot weather and the football World Cup boosted sales of beverages and sweet frozen products.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has approved an Indian proposal to develop a dedicated global standard for cashew kernels. India expects harmonized quality and safety requirements to reduce technical trade barriers and improve market access for exporters.
Electricity generated from coal in India rose 14.70% while output from oil and gas fell 29.33%, according to a report by India's Ministry of Coal. Coal is consolidating its role in the power mix as costlier, import-dependent fuels lose ground.
The IMF expects world crude prices to fall only slowly, raising costs for fuel importers and weighing on currencies like Indonesia's rupiah, which slid to Rp18,066 per dollar. OPEC+ is adding just 188,000 barrels a day in August.
Brazilian white crystal sugar prices remained broadly stable, while ethanol prices declined again. Globo Rural reported that rain in May and June slowed sugarcane harvesting and milling but supported crop development.
Imported Tunisian extra virgin olive oil now trades in Europe at about €4.20/kg, above Spanish extra virgin at €3.65/kg and even some Italian lots. The unusual inversion reflects Tunisia's sold-out export crop, a Spanish deodorization glut and heat-stressed harvests.
Egypt is preparing legislation to reduce added sugar in manufactured food and beverages as part of its strategy against non-communicable diseases. Food industry representatives support a phased rollout and see stevia as a potential way to curb sugar imports, although reformulation costs and consumer acceptance remain key challenges.
Morocco shipped only about 8,700 tonnes of fresh strawberries between October 2025 and April 2026, nearly 50% less than the previous season and the fourth consecutive annual decline, according to EastFruit. Egyptian competition, drought, labour shortages and floods drove the drop, while producers shift toward blueberries, raspberries and IQF frozen strawberries.
Chicago soybean oil futures gained more than 3.5% as crude oil surged 6%, strengthening the biofuel-linked vegetable oil market. USDA also reported sales of 136,000 tonnes of soybeans to China for the next marketing year.
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