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Coastal West Africa’s Ghana shows signs of possibilities for expanding imports of halal certified food and agricultural products. It evidences promise thanks to the increasing number of halal product consumers in country and in the region.

Brazil is the second largest beef producing country and the largest beef exporting country in the world. Post expects decreased slaughter in 2025, due to the forecast start of the reversion of the cattle cycle.

This provides an update to the report Citrus Annual_Brasilia_Brazil_BR2024-0043. The report has been edited from its original version to revise estimates and update the Post forecasts for production, consumption and exports.

In 2023, Brazilian foodservice industry revenues reached US$ 96 billion, an increase of 12 percent compared to 2022. Brazilian imports of consumer-oriented products grew 14 percent in 2023, ending the year at US$ 5.8 billion.

Brazil requires imports and exports of animal-origin products be accompanied by certificate with animal health attestations and/or public health attestations. Import requirements are defined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and a certificate model must be bilaterally negotiated before trade starts.

The Food and Agricultural Imports Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) report provides an overview of the food laws and regulatory environment in Brazil as it relates to food and agricultural exports.

Post increased the 2024/25 forecast for soybean planted area expansion in Brazil to 47 million hectares (HA) and soybean production to 165 million metric tons (MMT). This season sowing began optimistically, with most soybeans planted on time compared to last year.

The Brazilian orange crop for Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast at 320 million 90-pound boxes (MBx) - standard reference, equivalent to 13 million metric tons (MMT), a decrease of 15 percent compared to the previous Post estimate for MY 2023/24 (378 million boxes or 15.42 MMT).

Corn prices in Brazil have been rising in recent months, driven by factors such as the increased prices in international markets and the devaluation of the Brazilian Real. As a result, corn production for MY 2024/25 (March 2025 – February 2026) is...

Ghana in 2024 has experienced drought-induced crop failures and low yields in eight out of its 16 administrative regions. FAS Accra (Post) consequently is revising up Market Year (MY) 2024/2025 import figures for wheat, corn, and rice due to reports of crop failures in some regions of the country and increased consumption.

Ghana is in economic recovery mode following the double hits of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak of 2020 and the macroeconomic crisis of 2022. The Ghanaian hotel-restaurant-institutional (HRI) sector is evidencing a promising upward trajectory.

In 2024, Brazil surpassed the United States in cotton production and exports for the first time on record. Brazil's MY2024/25 planted area is also estimated to reach a new record. Favorable prices compared to corn as well as lower production costs have boosted cotton's profitability, making it the preferred choice for second crop planting.