Browse Data and Analysis

On January 14, 2025, the Panamanian Food Agency (APA) and the Ministry of Health of Panama confirmed that the dairy plants registration process has been significantly expedited, resolving a trade barrier created on July 17, 2023.

On December 25, 2024, Türkiye unexpectedly increased the Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on distilled spirits by 12.5 percent, excluding domestically produced raki.

Although Panama highlighted the use of biotechnology in its Agricultural State Policy Law 352 of 2023, Panama has not yet established the implementing regulations of Law 48 of 2002, which created the National Commission of Biosafety for Genetically Modified Organisms.

In contrast to the production surplus in MY 2023/24, total citrus production is expected to decrease 36 percent in MY 2024/25 to around 5 million metric tons (MMT) due to excessive heat during the blooming period and drought conditions during the harvest period. Due to projected decreased production, it is expected that citrus prices at supermarkets will increase.

This report outlines how U.S. food and agriculture exporters engage with the hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) sector in Panama. This sector plays a vital role in Panama's economy and is driven by international tourism.

Turkiye’s HRI sector continues to grapple with rising inflation and economic uncertainty, while sales in terms of U.S. dollars have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Turkiye’s cotton production in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to increase to 865,000 metric tons (MT; 3.97 million bales), since farmers planted cotton on larger area in response to temporary cotton price hikes during the planting season and because of better yields compared to last MY due to better weather conditions.

Türkiye’s Biosafety Law continues to threaten imports and imposes a heavy financial burden on the country’s agri-food sector. The number of approved of genetically engineered (GE) events remains arbitrarily fixed at 36 and only includes traits in corn and soy for feed use. There are no approvals for food use due to public sensitivities about the technology.

Turkiye’s commercial apple production in MY 2024/25 is forecast to fall to a five-year low because of unusually dry and warmer weather conditions, which growers say is caused by climate change.

Amid economic headwinds, Turkiye's retail food sector continues to grow, fueled by a young population of 85 million and a rising middle class. The sector is predominantly made up of domestic discount chains, and most of the food on store shelves is produced locally.

Turkiye’s overall production of grain for marketing year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to drop year-over-year due to drier-than-normal weather conditions across most of the country.

Turkiye’s beet sugar production in marketing year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to decline year-over-year due to dry and hotter-than-normal weather conditions in the country’s beet growing areas.