JAPAN, July 7, 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: Wal-Mart Stores expresses interest in another acquisition from Japan's retail sector; The Japanese retail sector points to the implementation of the new price-inclusive sales tax after experiencing undesirable sales results; Mos Food Service and Sanko Marketing Foods defy the overall slump in the food service sector; Increasing expectations for food ingredients used in the nakashoku market segment; Seaboard Farms of the U.S. joins two Japanese companies to deliver pork bone extract to the Japanese market and; The U.S. Meat Export Federation's "American Pork Caravan Car" is on the road in Japan.

MALAYSIA, July 7, 2004 -- Malaysian imports of U.S. temperate hardwood lumber dropped 25% reflecting purchase drawdowns following a sharp 58% surge in purchase in 2002. There are potential opportunities for U.S. hardwood in the furniture, interiors and flooring sector. The Malaysian timber industry performed very well in 2003. Log output rose 3.5% than a year ago while lumber output was down marginally. Overall export earnings from timber products rose 7% with the furniture sector chalking up an impressive 12% growth. The 2004 outlook is optimistic with an expected further increase in overseas demand for logs and timber products (including furniture), not only from East Asia, but also from India.

INDIA, July 7, 2004 -- *Deals struck to import 700,000 tons of raw sugar*, *Monsoon: So far, so good*, *India, US sign pact on agricultural biotech R&D*, *Bangalore Bio 2004, from July 11-13*, *Supachai backs Indian farmer*, *Contract farming gathers momentum*, *Fruit juice category to grow at 40 percent*, *Indian beer keeps pace with 2 percent global growth*.

CANADA, July 7, 2004 -- * Minister Speller Defeated in Election * Canadian Wheat Board Blocks Prairie Pasta Producers * Canadian Feedlot Operators Consider NAFTA Trade Challenge * Manitoba Crop Update * Saskatchewan Crop Update * Ontario Corn Crop Not A Disaster * Stats Canada's Seeded Acreage Report

SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, July 7, 2004 -- South Africa's 2003 (MY2004/05) corn crop is now estimated at 8.1 million tons compared to the 9.7 million tons produced in the previous season. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in the area planted. The local industry operates in a free market. In the marketing year ended April 30, 2004, about 464,000 tons of corn were imported and 1.1 million tons exported. Wheat imports continue unabated with the US supplying 485,000 tons of the 843,000 tons imported since October 2003.