Turkish sweet AJC is being offered in Europe at a reported EUR1.35 per kilo, equivalent to USD1,525 per tonne cfr main European ports.

The producer price index (PPI) for all commodities fell 1.7% in January from the prior month but still grew 0.4% from the previous year.

In an action that is likely to send ripples of fear through the Chinese fruit juice industry, the privately-owned China Huiyuan Juice Group has failed to repay a HKD1.0 billion (USD128 million) convertible bond that has become due.

Spain’s Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB) has ratified a “Collaboration Plan for the Improvement of the Composition of Food and Beverages and Other Measures 2020”.

Available from the middle of March, Capri-Sun Cherry will be available in a 330ml re-sealable pouch and will feature a new safety cap. According to CCEP, cherry is the fastest growing flavour in the UK soft drinks sector, with sales up by GBP17.0 million (USD21.9 mln) last year.

The UK-based food and drinks group Princes Limited is committed to a three-year supply contract with associated growers of the Italian agriculture association Coldiretti, as a result of a partnership signed by both entities on February 12.

Private label currently dominates canned corn and beans retail sales in the US, with US own brand remaining strong in selected canned vegetable categories.

Since Peruvian fruit and vegetable manufacturer Camposol started a turnaround of its fresh fruit and vegetable retail supply years ago while disposing of its canning business, blueberries recently became the shining star of the Peruvian company, with significant developments on avocado, citrus fruit and table grapes.

The Antei Group of Companies has launched a new range of ivasi sardine products, including smoked fillet in oil, canned sardines in oil and brine, as well as hot-smoked and fresh fish.

Tomato paste producers in Russia, besides the natural self-sufficiency goal, are increasing production due to a domestic rise in demand for sauces and ketchups, IEG Vu learned at Prodexpo in Moscow.

New York cocoa futures settled lower on yesterday’s (February 14) closing, while in London values firmed marginally.

Chocolate maker Barry Callebaut has successfully placed its first promissory note loan known as a Schuldscheindarlehen.

The Polish frozen food producer’s Russian subsidiary has launched an innovative range of Moments desserts in the domestic market: chocolate-covered berries.

Cocoa’s renewed rally attempt this week drew much of its support from slhtly less favourable weather talk coming from origins.

Cocoa futures in both New York and London firmed again slightly on yesterday’s (February 13) closing, as a sideways trend continues.

Ample supplies exacerbated by origin currency weakness continued to undermine attempts to revive ailing coffee futures markets.

Family owned JAB Holding Co, which has several coffee and restaurant brands is planning to list the business that owns Keurig, Dr Pepper, Peet's Coffee and JDE coffee brands, the company said on February 14.

Arabica futures in New York suffered further losses as a weak Brazilian currency was weighing on the market.

Rwanda’s coffee export revenue increased to more than USD69 mln in 2018 from around USD64 mln the previous year, the National Agricultural Exports Board said.

Arabica coffee futures slipped as a weaker Brazilian real dragged the spot contract to its lowest levels in nearly two months.

Russian dairy producers are targeting the supply of long-life products to China after recently gaining clearance to export there, IEG Vu learned at Prodexpo in Moscow this week.

Brazil is set to increase its basic import tariff for whole or skimmed milk powder from the EU, in order to offset the withdrawal of anti-dumping duties, Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, announced this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating potential exposures to an antibiotic-resistant strain of the bacteria Brucella in 19 states connected to consumption of raw milk from a farm in Pennsylvania.

In an action that is likely to send ripples of fear through the Chinese fruit juice industry, the privately-owned China Huiyuan Juice Group has failed to repay a HKD1.0 billion (USD128 million) convertible bond that has become due.

Adecoagro has purchased two milk processing plants in Argentina from SanCor, along with two trademarks.

Sardinian shepherds and milk producers in Italy are threatening to blockade the upcoming regional elections if a solution to the falling price of milk is not found.

The weather conditions around Uppington and the Orange River had been very good until the first week in February. Rain, however, was forecast and unfortunately there are now reports of some heavy showers and thunderstorms.

The Swiss-Bolivian company Hylea 1884 is set to open the largest Bolivian nut processing plant in the Bolivian region of Pando, in March.

Spanish companies are developing a broad range of tiger nut-based products such as powder, alcoholic beverages, oil or special chocolates to meet exploding demand.

The young Argentine conventional and organic prune sectors are viewing a poor crop, due to intense frosts at the end of the year, declining by 40% compared with 2018.

Azerbaijan-based Balkhoorma takes advantage of its natural production resources with dried persimmon.

The producer price index (PPI) for all commodities fell 1.7% in January from the prior month but still grew 0.4% from the previous year.

Spain-based table grape licensing company SNFL is launching the South African Joy Bell variety next year in some Mediterranean countries after several trial years working on its adaptation to the new environment.

In 2018, German households bought the lowest volume of fresh vegetables for six years, in contrast with a better year for fruit sales.

Crocus Group plans to invest USD40-50 million in the project, which includes a 100 hectares organic orchard in the Moscow region, according to owner Araz Agalarov.

Banana production rose 0.6% to 2.42 million tonnes in the last quarter of 2018. The Davao Region led the country with output of 904,130 tonnes, or 37.3% of the total, followed by Northern Mindanao with 492,250 tonnes.

The Polish frozen food producer’s Russian subsidiary has launched an innovative range of Moments desserts in the domestic market: chocolate-covered berries.

Russian dairy producers are targeting the supply of long-life products to China after recently gaining clearance to export there, IEG Vu learned at Prodexpo in Moscow this week.

Spain’s Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB) has ratified a “Collaboration Plan for the Improvement of the Composition of Food and Beverages and Other Measures 2020”.

Since Peruvian fruit and vegetable manufacturer Camposol started a turnaround of its fresh fruit and vegetable retail supply years ago while disposing of its canning business, blueberries recently became the shining star of the Peruvian company, with significant developments on avocado, citrus fruit and table grapes.

Under the recent co-chief executive structure announcement, Greenyard will develop its plans to further transitioning its organisation into a vertically integrated partner for its retail customers.

March corn closed unchanged at USD3.74 3/4 on Friday as traders squared away positions ahead of holiday weekend.

Falling global cash prices caused Chicago March wheat fell to a multi-month low before settling 2 3/4¢ lower at USD5.04 1/4 while Kansas City traded down to a new contract low before settling 5¢ lower at USD4.76 1/2. Minneapolis also closed lower.

Soybean futures recovered somewhat on Friday after US and Chinese negotiators cited progress in the latest round of trade talks. Soymeal and soyoil contracts also ended higher. March soybeans gained 4¢ at USD9.07 1/2.

The CBOT market’s muted reaction to last week’s 8 million tonne cut in the USDA’s world soybean production forecast might beg the question, how have prices been able to stay over USD9/bushel before that supportive input?

Hotly-anticipated yet soon faded, last week’s delayed USDA data blitz seems to have been mostly pre-empted by earlier trade and private analyst reports, leaving CBOT futures at the low end of 2019’s tight range.

While corn and soybeans remain fixated on hopes of windfall China trade, wheat has been marching to its own tune.

The producer price index (PPI) for all commodities fell 1.7% in January from the prior month but still grew 0.4% from the previous year.

An egg trader in the Netherlands has been fined EUR30,000 for a fraud involving the sale of potentially contaminated eggs.

EU cattle prices have declined again over the past week, as demand has eased for sub-prime cattle in particular. The main exception has been for young cattle aged 8-12 months, whose values have risen considerably.

Pig prices in Europe have finally started tracking upwards over the past week, as a reduction in the volume of animals being presented for slaughter has forced abattoirs to raise prices.

A Green MEP has urged caution with cell-cultured meat development in the EU, calling for the bloc to apply the precautionary principle to prevent risks to human health or the environment.

China’s antidumping probe into Brazilian chicken suppliers concluded today (February 15) with a compromise agreement that exempts some of Brazil’s biggest poultry companies from import duties – so long as sales are made above an agreed minimum price.

Soybean futures recovered somewhat on Friday after US and Chinese negotiators cited progress in the latest round of trade talks. Soymeal and soyoil contracts also ended higher. March soybeans gained 4¢ at USD9.07 1/2.

The producer price index (PPI) for all commodities fell 1.7% in January from the prior month but still grew 0.4% from the previous year.

Rapeseed futures markets were heading back to or below the bottom of their tight 2019 ranges to date, moving mainly with competing veg-oils and currency markets.

Palm oil prices ricocheted from seven-month highs to three-week lows as supportive origin data was blunted by ongoing concerns about forward demand.

The CBOT market’s muted reaction to last week’s 8 million tonne cut in the USDA’s world soybean production forecast might beg the question, how have prices been able to stay over USD9/bushel before that supportive input?

Soybean futures settled at one-month lows Thursday, after weekly sales data revealed Chinese buyers cancelled some earlier soybean sales commitments in the first reporting week of 2019. Soymeal and soyoil contracts also ended lower. March soybeans lost 13¢ at USD9.03 1/2.

Russia has what it takes to meet the aim set by president Putin’s decree to double agri-food exports by 2024, paying special attention to further processing and diversifying its supply markets beyond the EAEU.

The Bulgarian company Lavena, listed on the Sofia exchange, is set to sell its essential oil-based products in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, partnering with the Singaporean house GSE International.

EU trade of fresh fruit and vegetables is benefiting from increasing interest from discounters, it was highlighted at Fruit Logistica 2019 held in Berlin between February 6 and 8.

Indonesian mace and nutmeg prices could be prone to renewed upward pressure due to concerns over recent volcanic activity, according to one recent assessment.

Guatemalan cardamom prices have increased significantly since the start of the 2018/19 season as it appears that the latest crop will fail to meet the volume that had been hoped for.

Who would have thought, a few seasons back, that the sugar market would behave with such restraint to an estimated year-to-date drop of over a quarter in this season’s production by top supplier Brazil, as reported by local industry body Unica this week?

India has raised the minimum selling price of sugar at the mill-gate to INR31 per kg from INR29, said Ram Vilas Paswan, the minister of consumer affairs, food & public distribution.

Mills in the Centre/South are likely to start harvesting the new sugarcane crop later than usual to allow cane fields to take advantage of late rains while holding excess ethanol stocks after over-producing last year, Reuters reported.

Saint Louis Sucre announced on February 14 to close two of its four sugar factories in France as part of a wider restructuring plan at its parent Südzucker.

Raw sugar futures in New York ended with slight losses as the market continued to be dominated by outside factors such as a weakening Brazilian real.

Spain’s Food and Drink Industry Federation (FIAB) has ratified a “Collaboration Plan for the Improvement of the Composition of Food and Beverages and Other Measures 2020”.