Spain will launch a deposit return system for beverage containers in November 2026, requiring bars, restaurants and retailers to collect a refundable deposit. The measure covers plastic bottles, cans and cartons of up to 3 litres and follows a reported 41.3% collection rate for single-use plastic bottles in 2023.
BriHyNergy has shipped a 15 MW PEM electrolyzer system to a Romanian customer, its largest European order to date. The three-unit installation is expected to begin operating by the end of 2026 and supply hydrogen to sectors including steel, chemicals and heavy transport.
Brazil produced 15.11 billion liters of beer in 2025, up 2.5% from 2024, according to the BarthHaas Report 2025/2026. The expansion supported South American output and offset much of a 5.2% decline in the United States, although Brazilian government data indicate a different domestic trend.
India spent less on pulses imports in the 2025-26 financial year as domestic production improved, global prices declined and import restrictions reduced overseas purchases. Kabuli chickpeas were a key part of the shift, affecting procurement decisions for Indian importers and international suppliers.
Sri Lanka has launched the Ceylon Tea Village 500 programme, a national initiative to establish 500 cluster tea villages. The programme targets 400 million kilograms of made tea production and US$2.5 billion in export earnings.
Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has requested an investigation into seven companies suspected of failing to absorb sugarcane produced by farmers. The inquiry could clarify the companies’ obligations and the consequences for growers and the domestic sugar supply chain.
Poland’s Polpharma Group has acquired Romanian pharmaceutical producer Biofarm in a €257 million transaction. The combination links Biofarm’s two plants and portfolio of more than 200 products with a regional group distributing about 400 million medicine packs annually.
Argentina is expanding beef exports after easing trade restrictions and reducing the export tax from 9% to 6.75%. Shipments reached 886,600 tonnes over the 12 months through May, while domestic consumption continued to decline.
Wholesale prices for major summer vegetables in Tokyo rose sharply as cloudy June weather delayed growth and subsequent heat disrupted harvesting and marketable yields. Cucumbers were 28% more expensive year on year in mid-July and more than 30% above the normal level in the latest market data.
Indonesia accounted for about 49% of Asia’s cocoa processing volume as national grindings reached 110,410 tonnes in the second quarter of 2026. The government is pairing its downstream-processing strategy with trade agreements and export promotion after cocoa exports rose to $3.60 billion in 2025.
Harvest-season rain has left an estimated 40% of China’s current garlic crop below quality standards. Prices are rising as Brazil and Argentina also reduce planting, although a favorable Spanish harvest could provide some relief.
Indonesia produces only about 20% of the milk it consumes, leaving nearly 80% of national demand dependent on imports, particularly from Australia. Low yields, limited feed land and the tropical climate constrain expansion, while the government is assessing closed-barn technology and financing support.
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