Author: Timothy Wahome (Timothy Wahome)

Maize gets dear in South Africa, whets imports
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Maize gets dear in South Africa, whets imports

South Africa has in the 2024-25 market returned to official white maize imports amid domestic shortage and price surge. This comes after a pricey late 2024 prompted the country to plan to expand the 2025 corn acreage. At 6,724 Rand ($357.18) a tonne in spot markets as of January 9, 2024, maize pricing is up by 55%,...

Egg inflation hits the United States, blame on bird flu
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Egg inflation hits the United States, blame on bird flu

Consumers in United States are coping with egg inflation and are laying the blame at the door of bird flu.  According to a BBC report on January 16, 2025, U.S.’ egg prices soared in December 2024 by 36% vis-á-vis December 2023. Although the avian flu has spurred the rise by occasioning shortage, the situation also owes to overall food inflation in...

Egypt emerges top non-EU exporter of horticultural exports to Europe 
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Egypt emerges top non-EU exporter of horticultural exports to Europe 

With 917,000 tonnes in horticultural exports to Europe in 2024, Egypt has ranked the biggest non-European vegetable and fruit exporter there. The mid-January 2025 European Union (EU)’s report, courtesy Cairo Scene, shows growth of 7% for Europe-bound annual horticultural exports. Overall, Egypt trailed the Netherlands as the top vegetable, tuber and fruit shipper to Europe. The...

Beef
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Aussie beef prices shake up the year’s start

Improving weather, strong production and undersupplied export destinations are all supporting Aussie beef prices early 2025.  In week 1 of January 2025, the government of Australia reported live beef up at A¢715 (US¢440) a kg. Weekly prices rose by 8%, as of January 8, 2025, with yearly price growth up by 16% since January 2024.  Although live...

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...