GAIN Reports from Thursday, January 16, 2020

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Thursday, January 16, 2020   Germany: Germany is Leading a Vegalution - Vegan Revolution - in Europe German food culture is turning more and more vegan. In 2017-2018, 15 percent of worldwide new vegan food and drink product launches occurred in Germany. According to a study from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, about 35 percent of the population see the availability of vegetarian or vegan products as 'very important', and 63 percent of Germans are trying to reduce their meat consumption, making the country one of the most vegetarian places in the world.       Germany: Good Prospects for US Organic Exports in the EU The boom on the organic food market in the European Union (EU) continues. U.S. organic exports to the EU reached record levels in 2018 and there continues to be good prospects for U.S. organic products. USDA-endorsed EU trade shows – like BioFach, the world's largest organic trade fair – provide an excellent gateway for U.S. companies for establishing contact with business partners. This report provides an overview of the EU market, as well as policy and trade situation regarding U.S. organic exports.     Germany: Product Brief Dried Fruits and Nuts With 83 million of the world's wealthiest consumers, Germany is the largest market for dried fruits and nuts in Europe and a very important destination for U.S. almonds, walnuts, prunes, and other products. This report provides marketing, trade, and regulatory information for U.S. exporters.    Japan: Exporter Guide Japan is the fourth largest market for U.S. exporters of food and agricultural products. The total Japanese food and beverage market was valued at an estimated $779 billion in 2018, with the retail sector accounting for $479 billion and the food service sector accounting for $300 billion. The United States exported $12.9 billion in agricultural products to Japan in that year. There are tremendous opportunities for U.S. exporters willing and able to follow the strict Japanese product regulations and keep up with the latest trends in this market. Under the U.S. – Japan Free Trade Agreement (effective January 1, 2020) nearly 90 percent of U.S. food and agricultural imports into Japan are either duty free or receive preferential tariff access.    Mexico: Citrus Annual Drought conditions continue to hamper citrus production in a number of states into the beginning months of marketing year (MY) 2019/20, resulting in similar production level forecasts as MY 2018/19. Final production will vary depending on weather throughout the year. According to sources, citrus exports are forecast to increase due to strong international demand and attractive prices. Mexico remains the world's second largest producer of limes, and growers are anticipating slightly improved yields in comparison to MY 2018/19. Grapefruit production has shown a steady increase in recent years due to consumer preferences to incorporate healthier foods into their diets.      Mexico: Grain and Feed Update For MY 2019/2020, Mexico's wheat production estimate is revised down slightly due to a smaller than estimated harvested area. Wheat consumption and trade remain unchanged as a result of a sluggish economy and decreased consumer purchasing power. While corn production for MY 2018/2019 was revised upward, estimates for 2019/20 are reduced because of this year's adverse dry weather conditions. Sorghum production is forecast to continue to decrease into next year as the reduction of government support programs for medium and big farmers discourages sorghum planting in key states. Rice production estimates are also lowered based on unfavorable weather conditions that led to decreased yields and lower area harvested.      Morocco: Morocco Announces 2020 FTA Tariff Schedule On January 1, 2020, the Government of Morocco (GOM) published Circular #6002/222, announcing its market access commitments under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for Calendar Year 2020.        For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov.   Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service · 1400 Independence Avenue, SW · Washington, DC 20250