Factory-made diamonds from China and India are gaining ground in jewelry as prices for natural stones fall. Lab-grown stones now reportedly feature in 61% of US engagement rings purchased, challenging the natural-diamond trade’s pricing and authenticity model.
Vietnam exported a record $1.12 billion of fruit and vegetables in July 2026, the sector’s first month above $1 billion. EU sales reached about $214.4 million in the first half, supported by strong demand for processed products.
Brazilian apple export volume increased by more than 220% in the first half of 2026, Canal Rural reported. Exporters are seeking new international markets, although shipment value, destination and absolute volume data were not disclosed.
Thailand’s corn policy committee is due to meet on August 10 to consider a guaranteed price of 7.50 baht per kg for corn containing 30% moisture. The meeting comes as feed mills suspend purchases even though domestic production is insufficient and the country relies on imports.
Kazakhstan has financed 95 dairy farms capable of producing more than 500,000 tonnes of milk annually, with 71 already operating. Another 19 farms with about 100,000 tonnes of capacity are planned by the end of 2026, while the new SK Agro 2050 complex anchors the buildout in the north.
Iran and Afghanistan see capacity for bilateral economic exchanges to reach $10 billion. Afghanistan’s commercial attaché in Tehran called for a shift from reliance on exports toward joint investment, with Iran’s Alborz province presented as a potential partner hub.
BSR has invited international banks and financial institutions to arrange about $600 million for the Dung Quat refinery upgrade and expansion. The $1.489 billion project will raise processing capacity from 148,000 to 171,000 barrels per day and bring fuel quality up to the Euro V standard.
Pedological drought of moderate to extreme intensity is affecting large parts of Romania, with unirrigated corn and sunflower the most exposed crops, agrometeorologist Daniel Alexandru said on Antena 3 CNN. The National Meteorological Administration warns of maximum temperatures up to 41 degrees Celsius between 6 and 11 August, well above the roughly 30-32 degree biological resistance limit of the two crops.
Iran’s dairy industry is facing higher production costs, an approximately 10% decline in domestic consumption and a possible drop in exports. The industry association has warned that another price shock could further weaken demand.
Kherson farmers expect the region’s melon harvest to reach about 25,000 tonnes despite continued Russian shelling. Rising Ukrainian supply is pushing prices lower, while extreme heat supports watermelon consumption across Central and Southern Europe.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have signed a joint declaration on farmer pricing, local cocoa processing, environmental protection and scientific cooperation. Coordination between the world’s two largest cocoa producers could influence how value and investment are distributed across the global supply chain.
FAO expects agricultural commodity prices to begin rising by the end of 2026, with stronger effects on retail food prices in 2027. Coffee, cocoa, sugar, palm oil, grains and oilseeds face pressure from El Niño, European drought and higher energy and fertilizer costs.
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