South Africa's record maize harvest and improved water reserves have reduced the near-term risk of food shortages. A returning El Nino cycle, however, threatens agricultural output and could push food prices higher. The buffer is real but works for a single season.
Global demand for protein ingredients is encouraging Wisconsin’s dairy industry to expand cheese production, as whey is generated during cheesemaking. Nikkei reports that producers are looking to Japan and other Asian markets as they seek new outlets for additional cheese volumes.
Drought and a delayed planting season could cut yields on some Irish potato farms from an expected 50 tonnes per hectare to no more than 30 tonnes. Producers face costs of about €10,000 per hectare after prices for the previous crop fell as low as €80–100 per tonne.
South Korea’s planned comprehensive GMO labeling regime is intended to strengthen consumers’ right to know. Food industry participants warn that it could also raise ingredient costs, encourage selective shifts to non-GMO inputs and narrow consumer choice.
Brazilian packaging production rose 2.4% in the second quarter of 2026, outperforming the broader manufacturing industry. An FGV Ibre study for Abre nevertheless forecasts annual growth of only 0.2% as debt, defaults, inflation and high interest rates constrain demand.
Russia’s confectionery exports increased by 14% and exceeded $2 billion in 2025, according to the Russian Export Center. China remained a prominent market, with demand for Russian chocolate and biscuits, while export growth reportedly continued at a high rate in 2026.
The value of Argentina’s sunflower seed exports rose 875.4% year on year in the first half of 2026, driven primarily by a 754.5% increase in volumes. Export revenue across the sunflower complex reached a record $2.075 billion as buyers sought supplies following a weak Northern Hemisphere harvest.
Russia’s coal reserves reached 273.2 billion tonnes at the beginning of 2026, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The reserve base increased by 825.6 million tonnes year on year, even as coal production fell by almost 2% in January-July.
Russia will apply GOST 35056 to funchoza and other fen-si starch noodles from September 1, 2026. The standard defines permitted ingredients, product characteristics, packaging, labeling, storage, transport and quality-control methods.
Japan will apply a single ¥54.25 tax to 350-milliliter containers of beer-type beverages from October 1. The change cuts the levy on conventional beer by about ¥9 while raising it on happoshu and third-category beer by about ¥7, narrowing retail price gaps.
Penzensky Dairy Plant has commissioned a milk filling line capable of handling 12,000 bottles per hour and a warehouse with almost 1,000 pallet positions. The expansion is intended to support milk processing of up to 500 tonnes per day, wider Russian distribution and the future development of exports.
Malaysia is monitoring rainfall as the probability of a very strong El Niño between October and December has risen above 90%. MPOC says the December monsoon could ease drought pressure, while any production impact would probably emerge after a nine-to-12-month lag.
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