Export prices of American goods including agricultural increased by 2% between April 2024 and April 2025 before Trump’s tariffs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics (BLS) on May 20, 2025, while export rates gained, import prices declined by 0.1% year-on-year (y-o-y). Agricultural export prices gained 1.9% y-o-y, the highest rise since the record 3.1% growth for the...
Author: Timothy Wahome (Timothy Wahome)
The Atlantic Africa sardines fishery seeks answers in Nice
A June 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, could change depleting sardines fisheries of Atlantic Africa. Organized by France and Costa Rica, the summit is “the final chance” to revamp the regional ocean population of small fish species. Their stock has barrelled downward since promises of the Lisbon conference of 2022 ran on...
Sugar prices in Uganda up marginally after lengthy free-fall
Consumers in Uganda are growing cognizant with a marginal rise in foodstuff prices, especially sugar, which had bottomed out for months. In May 2025, retail sugar has elevated from 3,800 to 4,500 Uganda shillings ($1.04-1.23) in various areas. The rate is still below January 2024’s 5,000-shillings ($1.37)-a-kg that marked the start of a yearlong price fall. Influential factors...
Walleye fishing in Minnesota a big hit during maiden run
The Minnesota 2025 walleye season has recorded rising fishing licensure since its May 10 opener, in a run lasting till November 30. According to WJON on May 16, 2025, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put annual license sales as up by 6%. Some of the licensees have rushed to the bounteous northern lakes’ region where they...
China cherry generosity saturates Vietnam at half price
Vietnam is leveraging cherry supplies from emerging greenhouses of China that are offering importers 50% the international price. Ho Chi Minh City’s specialty fruit vendor Thanh Loan told VNExpress on May 18, 2025 of prices hugging 0.5 million dong ($19.26) a kg. Loan purchased 2 kg of China’s cherries at almost 1.2 million dong ($46.22), the same...
South Africa-United States talks could rescue sourly citrus
South Africa-United States citrus trade relations could sweeten when Presidents Ramaphosa and Trump meet May 21, 2025. The meeting comes adrift simmering tensions that range from 30% tariffs (currently suspended) and diplomatic tiffs. In March, Washington D.C. dismissed SA’s ambassador following his anti-”American First” comments. Then in early May, Trump welcomed 49 Afrikaners who “fled”...
Short-season basmati acreage in India up courtesy firm prices
India’s annual basmati sowing area will expand by 10% as farmers rush to plant short-season varieties to maximize favorable pricing. Satish Goel, head of All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), forecasts 7 to 10% seasonal expansion for the short crop. As a June to September Kharif grain, short-duration basmati enjoys the advantage of a quick maturity cycle that suits demand shifts....
Feijoa fruit dearer to New Zealand than kiwi
An Associated Press report shows that the minor backyard fruit, feijoa (Acca sellowiana), actually overshadows kiwifruit’s popularity in New Zealand. Although it costs 10 New Zealand Dollars ($5.89) per kg at grocers, many enthusiasts can only have it for free. The fruit’s free market economy is because each southern autumn (April) it falls generously in leaf-strewn backyards. Subsistence growers...
Fisheries of China dominate the world as seen from space
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has sensationally captured the far reaches of fisheries on the South China sea. Taken from the International Space Station on May 12, 2025, the telltale photo of dot-like fishing boats has rekindled remote fishing debates. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2020, China leads the...
Family farm tax elicits sharp reactions in the UK, U.S.
Prominent voices including the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins have reprimanded the oncoming family farm inheritance tax in the UK. The Labour government has scheduled the first-time levy for April 2026 to channel back increasing tax exemption claims into public use. In reaction, secretary Rollins told GB News on May 13, 2025 during her...