Author: Timothy Wahome (Timothy Wahome)

Indonesia curbs export of palm oil byproducts, used cooking oil
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Indonesia curbs export of palm oil byproducts, used cooking oil

Aiming to maintain a biodiesel policy known as B40, Indonesia has tightened exports of palm oil byproducts and used cooking oil. Farmers on the Line  The export curbs could hurt palm farmers’ revenue, cites Majalah Hortus in a January 11, 2025 story. This is because franchise growers can only sell their raw material to affiliate mills while independent growers have...

Drying fish
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Tilapia harvest turns page in Negros Occidental, PH

Farmers in Negros Occidental province in the Western Visayas in the Philippines recently harvested cultured tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) via two farmers’ association.  This development marks a branching of the region’s primary claim as the national center of sugar production into aquaculture. According to Sunstar PH, the regional government provided the Marcelo Farmers Association (MAFA) with 5,000 tilapia fingerlings.  Although...

Global sugar sector slows down, to recover in 2025 
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Global sugar sector slows down, to recover in 2025 

Poor inventory targets have slowed down the global sugar sector in major markets so far in 2025, research indicates. However, supportive policies in some nations, like Jamaica, project a 2025 recovery. According to Elara Capital, the slowdown is visible through sugar prices, whose annual drop has been hovering around 5%.  By January 10, 2025, international sugar spot...

Cocoa cooperatives in Peru form national federation
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Cocoa cooperatives in Peru form national federation

16 cocoa cooperatives in Peru have formed the Crean Federation of Cocoa Cooperatives of Peru (FEDECACAO). According to Agraria Peru, the joint effort aims to promote sustainability and boost the livelihoods of small-scale producers. The deal, inclusive of regional co-ops, came into a reality after successful initial negotiations back in December 2024.  Upon its formation, FEDECACAO’s members...

Cotton
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World cotton prices slide only momentary

Traders expect world cotton prices to recover from the reigning slow start, citing that May deliveries onward will gradually gather strength.  Markets have been ticking downward in January 2025, continuing a bearish slide since the price heights of February 2024.  United States For one, U.S. cotton opened the new year with a price below $0.68 a pound,...

Will corn continue winning streak in January WASDE report?
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Will corn continue winning streak in January WASDE report?

On January 10, 2025, trade fell expectant of a bombshell from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s biggest yearly corn report. The bombshell is the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, which traders consult for trade direction. This year’s first WASDE comes when corn is performing well due to positive market sentiments despite a whopping 2024...

Rice terraces in the Philippines
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The Philippines rice authorities race to fix import prices

The Philippines rice sector via the Department of Agriculture (DA) is finalizing an amicable import price for 2025, to contain domestic prices. Import prices for one of the world’s biggest rice importers normally impact domestic rates as much as those of locally-produced rice. This is why the DA, together with the Department of Trade and Industry, is...

Avocados to run scarcer, costlier by 2050 
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Avocados to run scarcer, costlier by 2050 

Avocados will still be available to a lesser degree in production zones by mid-century, but at a price, studies warn. According to The Mirror in a January 7, 2025 story, 2050 production could fall by 41% due to erratic weather patterns. On the line are key sources in central America from Mexico to Peru and Africa, where climate is...

A school of bluefin tuna
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Bluefin tuna in Japan tips the scale with largesse

A bluefin tuna in Japan weighing 276 kg (607.2 pounds) recently sold at a record 207 million yen ($1.3 million) on January 5, 2025. This is the second highest live price since the start of record-keeping in 1999.  The auction for the giant fish took place smack on the 2025 tuna season opener at the Toyosu Fish...

tomatoes in Jordan
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The Israel tomato price dilemma ends upon supply rebound

As the Hamas war marches past its 460th day, the Israel tomato price monitor is ticking downward after a 90% local supply rally. According to the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture Oren Lavie, wholesale rates were down by 4 shekels ($1.09) to the kg on January 1, 2025. Wholesale tomatoes that had been trading at 11...