Browse Data and Analysis

Production of wheat, corn, barley, and oats is forecast to increase two percent year-over-year to 62.7 million metric tons (MT) in MY 2025/26 and area planted to grains will increase 2.2 percent year-over-year to 27.5 million hectares, according to Statistics Canada’s planting intentions survey.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a new directive for “Phytosanitary requirements for the importation and domestic movement of grapevine material for propagation or decorative use as fresh cut vines”.

The federal government announced a set of relief measures for Canadian businesses impacted by tariffs with the United States, including the temporary remission of surtaxes applied on U.S. goods from Canada’s retaliatory list, provided these goods are used as inputs in food and beverage manufacturing, processing, and packaging.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have negotiated new conditions for the importation of U.S. natural casings from the United States to Canada.

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of Japan proposed revisions of Japan’s maximum residue levels for four agricultural chemicals (Butachlor, Etofenprox, Spinetoram, and Prallethrin) for various agricultural commodities.

On April 1, 2025, Japan formally lifted the mandatory aflatoxin testing requirements on U.S. almonds compliant with the new almond export protocol.

The Canadian food and beverage processing sector is the largest manufacturing sector in Canada in terms of both GDP and employment, representing over 16 percent of Canada's manufacturing GDP and 17 percent of Canada's manufacturing jobs.

This report highlights the harmonization of specific liquor taxes on alcoholic beverages that took effect on Oct.1st, 2024. U.S. exports of these products are not directly affected, but exporters should be aware of these changes.

Japan's vegetable oil and protein feed markets are mature and stable. While surging commodity prices and the shipping crisis impacted Japan's oilseed and product imports in the past, the situation has normalized.

The Canadian cattle herd continued to experience contraction to begin 2025, however, there are signs of herd stabilization as cow slaughter declines and producers indicate an increase in heifer retention for beef replacement.

The Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) of the Government of Japan (GOJ) convened a meeting of the “Food Sanitation Standards Council, Newly Developed Food Investigation Committee” on February 21, 2025, to discuss the establishment of food safety standards for cell cultured foods.

In 2024, Japan's food processing sector had a 3.9 percent increase in the value of food produced, totaling $174 billion. Production increases occurred in dairy, alcoholic beverages, tea, coffee and cocoa, and health foods.