FAS Daily
Attache Report Digest
August
13, 2004
FAS Daily
Attache Report Digest
Grain Update July
KAZAKHSTAN, REPUBLIC OF, August 13, 2004 -- Kazakhstan's
MY2004/05 wheat production is forecast at 11.5 million metric
tons (MMT) assuming normal weather conditions for the rest of
the harvest. MY2004/05 wheat exports are forecast at 5.5 MMT
due to high yields and lower ending stocks.
Read This Report
European Commission not
Happy with Germany Genetech Law
GERMANY, August 13, 2004 -- On July 26, 2004, the European
Commission informed the German government about concerns the
Commission has with the proposed German gentech law, which is
still in the parliamentary approval process. The Commission
complains that the German law is strongly biased to the
advantage non-GMO producers.
Read This Report
Annual
TAIWAN, August 13, 2004 -- Overall, Taiwan remains a
subdued market both for wood imports and for wood imports from
the United States, with growth expected to average 4% over the
coming 3-year period. This is due in large part to the shift
of Taiwanese wood products manufacturing operations offshore
and the return of the construction and remodeling sectors to
moderate growth levels. Subsectors within the solid wood
products sector that continue to hold particularly good
prospects for US companies, however, include treated softwood
and engineered wood products for home construction and public
/ recreational infrastructure enhancement. New construction
codes recently approved and a fire code currently under review
will open the market to much more extensive development of
opportunities for use of structural wood in residential
developments, townhouses, small office buildings, schools, and
so on.
Read This Report
Food Business Line
JAPAN, August 13, 2004 -- From America's largest overseas
food and agricultural export market as translated from Japan's
mass media and food industry news. This issue includes: Aeon
plans to open one of the largest shopping complexes in Saitama
Prefecture as early as 2006; The market size of jelly-type
beverages reached at least 40 billion yen in 2003; Sapporo
Beverage is to become the exclusive sales representative for
Ocean Spray Cranberry products; Jyojyo-en will begin using a
beef trace-back system ahead of the Beef Traceability Law's
requirement in December and; New Zealand "Gold" kiwi sales
increased by 70% in May.
Read This Report
Food Business Line
JAPAN, August 13, 2004 -- From America's largest overseas
food and agricultural export market as translated from Japan's
mass media and food industry news. This issue includes: Reins
International Inc., diversifies into the convenience store
sector, to correct losses stemming from ongoing problems with
the beef import ban in Japan; Beef bowl chain operator,
Yoshinoya D&C, blames Japan's ban on beef imports for its
first net loss in 24 years; A recent survey in Japan shows
that while less than half of consumers check labels to make
sure food is safe, slightly more than half are also concerned
about food safety but can't figure out what is safe and;
Nichirei plans to import organic chicken from French livestock
company Bodyn and sell it in Japanese department stores at
prices three times that of normal broiler prices.
Read This Report
Beans and Pulses Monthly
Trade Report-June
BURMA, August 13, 2004 -- India took 69 percent and China
took 14 percent of the total Burmese beans and pulses exports.
Exports to China and Thailand are mostly through border trade.
Trading activities are strong due to increased export
activities and firm foreign exchange rate.
Read This Report
Rice Monthly Trade
Report-June
BURMA, August 13, 2004 -- Even though the rice export ban
has not been officially lifted, 4,199 metric tons (mt) of
paddy (unmilled rice) and 1,000 mt of rice were exported to
Bangladesh via border trade. The Government of Burma (GOB)
stated on 29 May that it would allow the export of all crops
produced on large-scale farms operated by selected
entrepreneurs.
Read This Report
Beans and Pulses Monthly
Trade Report-July
BURMA, August 13, 2004 -- Burma exported 68,992 metric tons
of beans and pulses in July, a decrease of 36 percent compared
to the same month of the previous year. China, with 13 percent
of the total exports, continues to be the second major buyer
of Burma's beans and pulses after India.
Read This Report
Market Brief
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF, August 13, 2004 -- Even with the
sluggish local economy, wine imports in 2003 surpassed the
record high of the previous year, growing 55.6 percent to
reach $45.8 million. Imports from the U.S. also showed robust
growth of 64.6 percent to an all-time high, $7.2 million.
Changing consumer tastes and alcohol beverage consuming
culture promise double-digit year-on-year growth for wine
imports for many years to come. While the market presents
growing opportunities to U.S. suppliers, the competition from
both old and new world countries is also rising.
Read This Report
Weekly Rice Price Update
THAILAND, August 13, 2004 -- Export prices of non-fragrant
rice continued to increase, mainly due to the aggressive
shipment of parboiled rice
Read This Report
Distilled Spirits
POLAND, August 13, 2004 -- Alcoholic beverage consumption
in Poland has been steadily rising. Poland is the world's
fourth largest consumer of vodka. The market for distilled
spirits was highly protected by tariffs; however, Poland's May
1, 2004 accession to the European Union, tariffs have
dramatically dropped. The United States has a large share in
the whiskey and gin markets which continue to expand.
Read This Report
Nursery Market Report
CARIBBEAN BASIN, August 13, 2004 -- Meeting the demands of
development, maintenance and household decor is a challenge
for local growers in most Caribbean countries. As a result,
caribbean nurseries, landscaping companies and developers have
turned to imports from the United States to supplement locally
grown products. In 2003 U.S. exports of nursery products
destined for the Caribbean totaled $4.4 million and are
projected to rise; sales in the first three months of 2004
show a 40% increase over the same period in 2003.
Read This Report
Cotton Tariff Reduced
COLOMBIA, August 13, 2004 -- Colombia will repeal the
decree that increased the tariff on cotton imports from 10 to
20 percent on June 16, 2004. The new regulation to set the
tariff at 10 percent once again will be issued shortly. The
decision to reduce the tariff is part of an overall agreement
on the minimum purchase price for local cotton production. The
Colombian Government will provide a direct payment of 10 US
cents per pound for local production.
Read This Report
Rice Weekly Update
VIETNAM, August 13, 2004 -- Vietnam is trying to limit rice
exports to 3.5 million metric tons. It is unclear if Vietnam
will take firm action to force rice exporters to comply with
the export restriction. Exports of fragrant and glutinous rice
are excluded from the 3.5 MMT limit. Nevertheless, it still
limits fragrant and glutinous rice exports to 5,000 metric
tons per month.
Read This Report
Country Report
NEW ZEALAND, August 13, 2004 -- This report outlines
regulatory requirements for food and agricultural imports into
New Zealand, including labeling, packaging, food additives,
and other import procedures. Significant updates have been
made in the following sections: Section I - NZFSA, Section V -
Maximum Residue Limits, Section VI - BSE-Related Import
Requirements for U.S. beef products, Section VII - Food
Produced using Gene Technology and Section VIII - Plant
Variety Rights.
Read This Report
North China
CHINA, PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF, August 13, 2004 -- China's
retail food revolution has been rolling across the country for
nearly a decade, replacing traditional wet markets and food
stalls with modern hypermarkets, warehouse and convenience
stores. At the same time, growing prosperity on the part of
top-tier urban consumers has fueled both economic access and
desire for high-quality imported food products. Improving
distribution and logistics are making it possible for US
exporters to supply this extremely competitive and rapidly
expanding retail market in North China.
Read This Report