GAIN Reports from Tuesday, May 4, 2021

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.   Brazil: Export Opportunities for Beef Producers Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect Brazil and its economy, the Brazilian market presents niche opportunities in the high-end beef market. Brazilian imports of premium beef grew by 26.3 percent last year compared to 2019. Although Brazil is the second-largest beef producer in the world, these figures reveal potential market opportunities. The leading exporters of this type of product to Brazil are Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, and the United States. Brazilian ranchers are keeping an eye on their domestic premium market and will inevitably participate and compete with these countries at some point. However, they still must adapt local production to achieve the quality required by this demanding market.   India: Grain and Feed Update FAS New Delhi (post) is lowering its India MY 2021/2022 (April-March) wheat production forecast to 105 million metric tons (MMT) compared to the pre-harvest forecast of 107 MMT. Post is lowering the forecast number due to early harvest reports of lower-than-expected yields in the country's central and eastern states. On April 16, 2021, the Indian Metrological Department released its first long-range forecast for the 2021 southwest monsoonal season (June-September), forecasting normal rainfall. On April 23, 2021, the Indian government announced that it will begin providing, anew, free food grains to 800 million National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries (62 percent of the population). Distribution of free grains commences in May and extends through June 2021, assisting beneficiaries experiencing economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak's second wave. Some 8 million metric tons of food grains are required to cover the two months of new distribution.   Malaysia: Cotton and Products Annual Post forecasts domestic consumption of cotton by the Malaysian textile industry at 350,000 bales in marketing year (MY) 2021/22 on presumed economic growth in Malaysia and strong consumer demand for textiles in the United States and the European Union as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.   New Zealand: Dairy and Products Semi-annual Despite a declining national dairy herd, New Zealand milk production continues to rise and is forecast to reach a record in 2021. Total milk production is forecast at 22.2 million metric tons (MMT), 1.2 percent above the 21.98 MMT produced in 2020. While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to export supply chains, whole milk powder (WMP) remains in demand at prices which are profitable for both processors and farmers. WMP powder exports for 2021 are forecast at 1.54 MMT, up slightly from the 1.53 MMT shipped in 2020.   Saudi Arabia: Barley Trade Quarterly On April 15, 2021, the Saudi government fully implemented its November 2020 decree to privatize the barley import sector. The decision was implemented when the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) sold 1.84 million metric tons (MMT) of barley through an open and competitive bidding process to local grain traders. The move officially ends Saudi Arabia's longstanding control of barley trade, and it is expected to benefit livestock farmers by eventually lowering overall feed costs. In preparation for the privatization of the barley imports and distribution sector, SAGO issued licenses to 11 local potential barley traders of which two have already commenced barley imports.   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