Browse Data and Analysis

In 2024, Israel's technologically advanced, market-oriented economy achieved an annual GDP of $541.8 billion, with a modest growth of 0.9 percent. The food retail industry saw significant activity, with sales reaching $21 billion in 2024 and a projected growth of 5 percent in 2025.

FAS Manila forecasts marketing year (MY) 2026 raw sugar production to remain flat at 1.85 million metric tons (MT). Ample rainfall during the planting season which started in October supported sugarcane planting among farms with no irrigation.

FAS Manila forecasts soybean meal imports in Marketing Year (MY) 2025/26 to increase by 3.1 percent to 3.35 million metric tons (MMT) compared to the previous MY, due to an increase in local feed demand from the broiler, layer, aquaculture, and pet food industries, along with the forecast gradual rebound of the swine industry.

The Philippine excise tax for alcohol products increased by six percent on January 1, 2025, and will continue to increase at a fixed rate of six percent annually, as stipulated in the law, which does not include a sunset provision.

Israel will continue to rely on imported feed and grains as it uses land and water resources for more cash crops. Due to poor weather conditions, Post forecasts Israel’s marketing year 2025/26 wheat production down (due to poor weather conditions) and imports up as production was limited.

As inflation eases, Post forecasts food sales growth at five percent in 2025 driven by population growth and rising incomes. Food and beverage manufacturing is expanding, indicating solid growth in the sector, amid higher production costs, particularly for inputs.

FAS Manila forecasts an increase in milled rice production in Marketing Year (MY) 2025/26 compared to the previous MY, due to favorable weather conditions and an increase in government funding for the rice industry.

On March 27, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Israeli Ministry of Health published a request for public comments on changes to European Union Directive 1999/2/EC related to reporting requirements in food and food ingredients treated with ionizing radiation.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has approved the lowering of the milling recovery rate (MRR) of palay to rice from 65.4 to 63.0 percent.

On February 27, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Israeli Ministry of Health published a request for public comments on changes to European Union regulation No 1169/2011 related to the provision of food information for consumers.

On February 26, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Justice and the Israeli Ministry of Health published a request for public comments on changes to five European Union regulations related to labeling (including messages and prohibited and restricted substances in food) and food improvement agents.

On February 7, 2025, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) released Sugar Order No. 2 (SO2) authorizing the voluntary purchase of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of raw sugar to avail of an allocation in the government’s sugar importation program.