Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes, the brewery owned by AB InBev, has bought Argentina’s Dante Robino winery for an undisclosed sum, and plans to double the producer’s share of the domestic market in two years.

An independent survey carried out by Brazilian orange juice exporters’ association CitrusBR shows that the country’s FCOJ inventory, as at December 31 2019, was 853,778 tonnes.

Thailand’s small and medium size canneries are struggling to face latest raw material price increase, resulting in less supply available of good quality amid current scarcity.  

The Gulfood 2020 exhibition has now ended and it is time to take stock. The over-riding concern of almost all companies that spoke with IEG Vu is the effect of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak on trade, both to and from China.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending up to USD100 million to food and beverages producer Almarai for new investments in Egypt and Jordan.

TB Fruit, one of Europe's largest apple juice concentrate producers, said it will relocate its frozen fruit, berry and vegetable operations from Poland to its domestic market Ukraine to 'create prerequisites for the development of the country's raw material base'.

Alimentos Heinz has recently announced the start of its ‘Zafra del Tomate 2020’, an initiative aiming to increase production of industrial tomato in Venezuela.

Thailand’s small and medium size canneries are struggling to face latest raw material price increase, resulting in less supply available of good quality amid current scarcity.  

The Gulfood 2020 exhibition has now ended and it is time to take stock. The over-riding concern of almost all companies that spoke with IEG Vu is the effect of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak on trade, both to and from China.

The Italian tomato industry is increasingly focused on high-profit product which has led to an increase in the production of pulp over concentrate.

Prices for skipjack tuna raw material in top world hubs Bangkok and Manta are currently going hand in hand, with Bangkok’s price rise confirmed this week and Manta’s market following suit.

EU fishing operations in the Seychelles remain on hold, waiting for the renewal of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Seychelles.  

Cocoa prices on Friday (February 21) gave up early gains and closed lower on updated weather forecasts that called for weekend rains in West Africa.

Cocoa futures remain near the top end of their past three-year range, awaiting proof that approaching African mid-crops have had enough recent rain to end drought threats and turn large numbers of flowers and young pods into a decent harvest.

Cocoa prices posted moderate gains on Thursday (February 20) with London cocoa at a 1-week high on weakness in the British pound.

Top Nigerian cocoa researcher, Peter Aikpokpodion, believes that cocoa farmers in West Africa should not be poor, but rather, be some of the richest people in the world.

Cocoa prices posted modest gains on Wednesday (February 19) on continued consolidation below last week's highs.

Cocoa prices retreated on Tuesday (February 18) on news of ample supplies from top producers Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Coffee production should reach 65.1 million 60-kilo bags in 2020/21, up from 53 mln in the previous season, a record level but distant from the highest estimates so far, broker and consultancy INTL FCStone said.

Arabica coffee rebounded, rising more than 5% after the prior session's sharp fall.

Recently weaker coffee futures failed to maintain a partial rally, despite hitting three-week highs at one stage.

Coffee futures prices were under pressure and settled lower as the Brazilian real fell to an all-time low against the US dollar.

Uganda’s coffee exports rose by 19.0% in January, the state-run Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) indicated.

The most-active May arabica coffee contract settled up 0.15¢ at 109.00¢ per lb, in dealings between 107.55 and 110.05¢.

Dairy prices continue easing, as coronavirus outbreak in China takes toll on global dairy futures.

USDA researchers have found that freeze-dried berry powder, in particular strawberry, can act as stabilisers for ice cream and other frozen dairy desserts.

The dairy industry in Ukraine, despite success in export markets in recent years, is facing headwinds that prevent its dairy industry from further development.

Polish prices saw across-the-board price movements over the last week, as the threat of coronavirus-related export delays raises concerns among the country's dairy players.

The total volume of dairy products exported by Uruguay increased by 9.7% year-on-year in January, according to the National Milk Institute (INALE).

European dairy traders have warned of “absolute chaos” on the market of Africa's most populous country following a decision by Nigerian authorities to withdraw import licences from all but six companies.

The main Spanish almond associations (Aeofruse, Almendrave, Descalmendra, Coag and the Spanish Cooperative Association) have approved official standards for domestic almond varieties, simplifying the available official list. 

Traditional Indian cashew harvest auctions are busy in the state of Goa. The growing areas of Mormugao, Canacona and Ponda started in the last week of January.  

Strong rise in Thai raw pineapple price is halting the dehydrating processor industry activity, as juice and cannery processors are also suffering. 

Borges closed the 2018-19 (June-May) marketing year with a net profit of EUR20 million (USD21.6 mln), a third more year-on-year, despite turnover falling by 15.8% to EUR690.

The Australian company Macadamia Processing Co (MPC) has announced the start of the brand Marquis Macadamias, which includes several macadamia growers and processors from Australia and South Africa such as Pacific Gold Macadamias and Global Macadamias. 

Argentina’s 2019-20 peanut planted area is expected to total 351,733 hectares, 9.3% less year-on-year, according to the Argentine Peanut Chamber (CAM). 

Thailand’s small and medium size canneries are struggling to face latest raw material price increase, resulting in less supply available of good quality amid current scarcity.  

The expected expansion in cultivated area, Brexit and the new regulation on anti-sprouting has set the premises for an uncertain potato season in 2020.

Potato stocks in the US were down by 3% on February 1, while in Canada they were slightly above the three-year average.

Ecuadorian vegetable processor Provefrut will invest USD10 million in procesing frozen avocado in Colombia, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism of Colombia reported.

Rockit miniature apples, showcased at Gulfood on the New Zealand pavilion, are a natural hybrid of the popular Gala and Gala/Splendour varieties. Originally from New Zealand, they can be grown in both hemispheres.

A pool of researchers has identified a cocktail of bacteria which would enable a reduction in water and pesticides usage for strawberry cultivation in the Huelva province of Andalucia where fields surround the UNESCO’s world heritage site of Doñana National Park.

Trade of frozen blackcurrants has fallen again in 2019, a year after showing some signs of recovery over the past two seasons.

USDA researchers have found that freeze-dried berry powder, in particular strawberry, can act as stabilisers for ice cream and other frozen dairy desserts.

The expected expansion in cultivated area, Brexit and the new regulation on anti-sprouting has set the premises for an uncertain potato season in 2020.

The worst drought in 50 years has taken its toll on harvested raspberry volumes in Chile, causing prices to increase by 14% compared with the beginning of the season.

Ferrero’s consolidated revenues hit EUR11.4 billion (USD12.33 bln) in 2019, a 6.2% increase compared with the previous EUR10.7 bln.

Potato stocks in the US were down by 3% on February 1, while in Canada they were slightly above the three-year average.

Wheat futures were lower on Friday on technical selling.

Corn futures continued to trade lower on Friday as USDA’s projection from its Agricultural Outlook showed a bearish scenario for corn in 2020/21 with carryout forecast at 2.6 billion bushels.

USDA released its initial 2020/21 outlooks at the Agricultural Outlook Forum, with only scant mention of China in the updates which cover prospects for the year ahead.

January’s record monthly US soy crush made a supportive headline but masked the pileup of oil product stocks with processors – oil reaching a 22-month high.

Despite a smaller than expected crop in 2019, US corn carryout for this season is not currently seen tight, mainly because exports have fallen twice as much as domestic demand was expected to rise.

Wheat futures initially reversed their recent losses as trade resumed in a US-holiday-shortened week, re-focused on European and Australian crop issues.

The EU broiler market has jumped by 2.0% over the past week, taking the average price to a new nine-month high.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Friday (Feb. 21) it has lifted the two-year suspension of raw beef imports from Brazil – a move that comes to the relief of Brazilian authorities but has been condemned by US food safety advocates.

European lamb prices have fallen back over the past week, as the divergence between UK and EU27 markets intensified.

Concerns over reduced supplies of pigs have kept European pig markets buoyant once again over the past week, despite the continuing logistical problems in China.

USDA released its initial 2020/21 outlooks at the Agricultural Outlook Forum, with only scant mention of China in the updates which cover prospects for the year ahead.

Eggs cannot be marketed as ‘free range’ if they come from hens raised in open-air runs with solar panel installations, the European Commission has confirmed.

Soybean futures ended lower along with soybean meal futures Friday, while soybean oil futures gained. March soybean futures were 2 1/4 cents lower at USD8.90 1/2.

Weakening palm and soy oil prices, still ample supplies in Canada’s commercial pipeline and transport blockages to export ports saw Winnipeg canola futures relinquish another chunk of their recent rally.

Back in January it was suggested India’s switch to Indonesian palm oil might see other customers seeking more from Malaysia – a trend that could be encouraged in palm’s many price-sensitive developing country markets by its oil becoming the cheaper of the two.

January’s record monthly US soy crush made a supportive headline but masked the pileup of oil product stocks with processors – oil reaching a 22-month high.

Pork industry groups from across the US have written to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue calling for extra measures to guard against African Swine Fever – including new restrictions on soy imports.

The Spanish Association of Garlic Growers and Traders (Anpca) has reported that domestic product is experiencing a strong growth in demand, especially inside the EU, due to the Covid-19 epidemic’s effects on the Chinese industry. 

Guatemalan cardamom exports were flat at around 36,600 tonnes but increased in value by 49.3% to USD648.0 million in 2019 compared with the previous year, according to customs data. 

The Indian cumin seed fob spot price fell to 14,164 per quintal (USD198.0/quintal) on February 19, 10.6% less than on January 20 at Unjha market, in the state of Gujarat (East India).

The New York-located Sheehan & Associates attorney firm, on behalf of the US citizen Lafremia Powell, has started a class action lawsuit against the US retailer Dollar Tree Stores because the plaintiff claims that the company is misleading information on its labelling about the vanilla content of its almond beverage. 

Cheap and diluted imports from China are threatening the viability of EU honey production, the sector has warned EU policymakers. On February 14, EU farming association Copa-Cogeca called on EU policymakers for a “strong and rapid response” to the “critical” situation on the honey market.

The US flavours house International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reported total sales of USD5.1 billion in 2019, 29% more than in 2018 with growth in all units, including the contribution of sales related to Frutarom.  

Thailand’s daily sugar cane crushing rates have fallen below half a million tonnes as the crushing season is winding down fast, industry data showed.

Raw sugar futures in New York ended with small gains in the final session of the week as market sentiment remained supportive.

Sugar has had less help from energy markets recently, firming ideas that Brazil will switch more of its cane crush from ethanol to the sweetener. 

Raw sugar futures in New York settled weaker after two sessions of gains as the market was under pressure from a weakening of the Brazilian real to a fresh all-time low.

Philippines sugar production in the week ended February 2 fell in year-ago comparisons, SRA data showed.

Raw sugar futures in New York ended higher as the market is showing renewed strength after a period of consolidation which followed on last week's advance to a May 2017 high of 15.90¢/lb.