| The following GAIN reports were released on January 22, 2025. _______ In MY 2024/25, the PRC's grain output is estimated to reach a record 706.5 million metric tons (MMT), a 1.6 percent increase driven by expanded acreage and higher yields. Corn production is forecast to rise 2 percent to 294.9 MMT with more high-yield varieties, while wheat and rice are forecast to grow to 140.1 MMT and 145.3 MMT, respectively. Lower corn prices boosted corn's use in feed and industrial applications, reducing reliance on wheat and rice. The corn import forecast is lowered to 14 MMT, while wheat imports are expected to fall 37 percent due to strong domestic production. Driven by demand in regions near India and with an end to India's export restrictions, rice imports are forecast to increase. This report provides information on agricultural product export certificates required by the Government of Croatia and was updated as of November 2024. After organic sales declined in 2022, demand began to recover in 2023 and is estimated to continue to have grown moderately in 2024, largely due to decreasing inflation and increasing availability of low-cost store brands. Organic-only retailers are no longer the primary distribution channel, with most sales generated by full-range (organic and non-organic supermarkets, such as EDEKA and REWE) retailers. Discount supermarkets (such as Lidl or ALDI) and drug stores also played a large role in sales because German consumers were still wary of spending following years of very high inflation. Although sales increased in 2023, the number of organic farms in Germany decreased for the first time in 30 years. Organic exports from the United States continue to be volatile. Post's corn crop estimate for South Africa for marketing year 2024/25 has been marginally lowered due to a reduced expected planting area. The production season started slowly with sporadic rainfall in October 2024 and a heatwave in November 2024, but conditions improved with continuous rainfall from mid-December. South Africa should maintain its status as a net exporter of corn in marketing year 2024/25, though sufficient rainfall for rest of the season will be a necessity to realize optimal yields. Despite tight stock levels, South Africa is continuing to export corn to neighboring countries where the demand is high, pushing local corn prices to record levels and creating a situation where imports are necessary to support domestic corn consumption demands. The first shipment of U.S. corn arrived in South Africa after the genetically engineered asynchronous approval issues were resolved late last year. On December 23, 2024, the Taiwan Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) announced the "Comprehensive Upgrade Plan for the Grains Industry". MOA's plan calls for raising the guided purchase price for rice (the mid-tier purchase price) by NT$1.5/kg and increase its procurement volume. The rice procurement price was last raised in 2011. The announcement is expected to incentivize farmers to deliver more to the public procurement program. Following confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease in Germany, the United Kingdom (UK) government has taken immediate unilateral action to mitigate against the risk or it spreading to Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland). The UK has suspended import of commodities from Germany including live ungulates and their germplasm, fresh meat from ungulates, meat products from ungulates, milk and animal by-products unless treated to mitigate FMD risk. Further safeguard measures restricting the commercial import to the UK of animal by-products, hay, and straw from Germany, unless treated to effectively mitigate the risk of FMD, are expected to be published shortly. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. | 
