Browse Data and Analysis

Germany is a member of the European Union (EU) and generally follows EU directives and regulations, including those relating to the importation of food products.

The Ministry of Trade temporarily banned lemon exports as of April 8, 2025, due to a predicted supply shortage following cold weather and frost damage in the southeast.

The European Parliament took an initial step to open market access for beet and oilseed planting seeds from Ukraine. The EU approved cereal planting seeds from Ukraine in 2020.

Spain is one of the world’s largest markets for fish and seafood. In 2024, it was the fourth largest importer of fish and seafood in the world - after much larger countries like the United States, China, and Japan.

The Marketing Year (MY) 2025/26 sugar beet area and production figures are forecast to remain the same as last year. Centrifugal sugar production remains the same year-on-year at 3.1 million metric tons, assuming favorable weather conditions.

FAS/Managua projects MY 2025/26 sugar production to reach 840,000 metric tons, up ten percent from MY 2024/25, assuming a more balanced rainy season and an increase in sugarcane plantations.

FAS/Pretoria’s Sugar annual report provides information on the production, supply, and distribution of sugar in South Africa for marketing year (MY) 2023/24, MY 2024/25, and MY 2025/26.

Unfavorable weather conditions in autumn 2024 resulted in decreased winter wheat area. Functioning maritime logistics in MY2023/24 and the first half of MY2024/25 kept shipping rates stable and have allowed Ukraine to quicky and cost efficiently export large volumes of commodities to distant markets.

Cranberry consumption and imports are growing in South Africa, with demand for dried cranberries and juice rising among middle-income, health-conscious consumers.

In the United Kingdom (UK) regulatory changes affecting high-sugar soft drinks and food and drink products high in fat, sugar, and salt food (HFSS) come into effect in April and October 2025.

Serbia’s overall grain production in MY 2024/25 had mixed results as its winter crops (wheat and barley) experienced bumper crops while corn, soybean and sunflower declined for the third year in a row.

Difficult growing conditions and a contracting domestic industry continue to pressure Greek cotton farmers and further its reliance on government subsidies for survival. Greece’s MY 2025/26 cotton production is forecast at 1.02 million bales, down 5.5 percent from the previous season due to lower planting.