New Zealand – Dairy exports predicted to rise in 2017/18

Dairy exports from New Zealand are expected to rise 24% to NZ$17bn (€11.5bn) in 2018, as milk production returns to previous levels after two years of decline, according to New Zealand’s ministry of primary industries. In the year ending September 2016, it exported record volumes of dairy to China, which accounts for 23% of dairy exports.

UK – Food shoppers to spend almost £21bn this Christmas

UK consumers are set to spend close to £21bn over the Christmas period on food and groceries, despite the recent devaluation of sterling. According to grocery research firm IGD, UK spending on food and groceries will rise 1.2% this Christmas to £20.6bn. Online shopping for food is set to rise over 9% to £1.2bn.

France – Highest winter sowings since early 1990s

French farmers have planted more than 7.3m ha in winter wheat sowings, according to the French agriculture ministry. This is the highest level of winter wheat plantings in more than 26 years, despite the country’s farmers enduring their worst wheat harvest in decades last season.

Brazil – Pork exports on track for strong year

Brazilian pork exports are racing ahead of last year’s volumes thanks to strong demand from large importers like Russia. In the first 11 months of the year, pork export volumes totalled more than 585,000t, which is 35% ahead of the same period last year. Sales prices are 14% ahead of 2015 at €1.25bn.