| The following GAIN reports were released on December 10, 2024. _______ In 2024, China's pet (dog and cat) consumer market reached $41.9 billion (302 billion yuan), an increase of 7.5 percent compared with 2023. Despite the economic headwinds faced by Chinese consumers, China's pet consumer market demonstrated resilience and steady growth following a 10-year period of rapid growth. Pet food remained the largest segment of the pet consumer market in 2024, with a share of 52.8 percent among all pet-related consumption. Amid a rising domestic pet food manufacturing industry and competition from international markets, the United States remained the top pet food supplier to China accounting for over 69 percent of market share the first 10 months of 2024. Market trends indicate that Chinese consumers continue to prefer premium U.S. pet food. China's raisin production is forecast to decline by 11 percent to 170,000 metric tons (MT) in Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 because of lower grape production in Turpan in Xinjiang Province where persistent heat has affected pollination. Despite this production shortfall, slowing economic growth in China and high international raisin prices are expected to reduce domestic consumption and imports. In MY 2023/24, Chinese exports of raisins reached a record high 68,500 MT, due to reduced competition from Türkiye. Post forecasts continued strong exports in MY 2024/25. On October 28, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published the revised mandatory national standard "General Directive for the Labeling of Agricultural Seeds", which will come into effect on October 1, 2025. The revised labeling directive, which was notified to the WTO on February 12, 2024, requires significantly more information on the seed label, including identifying information, a description of cultivation and uses, and a QR code which links to traceability data. The directive also clarifies label requirements for genetically engineered (GE) seeds and imported seeds. This report provides an unofficial translation of the revised directive which will replace the national standard (GB 20464) which dates back to 2006. Côte d'Ivoire is the gateway to the Francophone West African market. U.S.-origin food products' presence in the Ivorian market is low compared to that of European suppliers. Nevertheless, this market offers American food exporters good potential. Côte d'Ivoire, with GDP growth in 2024 projected at reaching about 7 percent, makes this country one of the fastest growing on the African continent and in the world. It benefits from a youthful, growing middle-class. The country is also the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans, as well as counts with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, that include the likes of Grand-Bassam, Comoé National Park, and Taï National Park. All of which attract business and leisure travelers. Côte d'Ivoire is Africa's third most popular destination with business travelers, trailing just behind Nigeria and Morocco. Business travel accounts for over two-thirds of tourism spending, mostly coming from regional conferences and exhibitions. In 2023, the agri-food market in France was still impacted by inflation, recorded at 3.8 percent. Price increases most severely impacted the lower income strata of society and cut into their ability to purchase. Many consumers are still moving away from big brands to less expensive distributor brands. At the same time, the food industry is adjusting to new environmental regulations that prioritize high value, high quality food that is produced and marketed more sustainably. New packaging laws are phasing out single-use plastics in favor of more recyclable materials. The French retail network is diverse and very sophisticated, offering a wide range of opportunities for U.S. food products provided they conform to French and EU regulations. Bite size local news, Post reports and activity summaries wrapped by ATO Hong Kong. In this issue: ATO Hong Kong showcases U.S. wine and spirits and draws a crowd at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair; ATO Hong Kong takes to the sea to promote U.S. artisanal cheese and New York wine; Delicious USA 2024 Restaurant Promotion promotional video released; Wisconsin Ag Delegation visits Hong Kong to promote ginseng and dairy; Retail sales decline narrows in September; Macau's gaming industry continues to boom; and lab-grown meat lands in Hong Kong. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
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