For a 14th consecutive season, China’s soybean imports will set a record high, with US Department of Agriculture staff in Beijing estimating 2017-18 imports will be up at 89m tonnes. The continued increases are being backed by an ever-growing demand for protein and vegetable oils in the country.

US meat producers are urging Donald Trump to secure a path for US beef into China. President Trump will meet Chinese president Xi Jinping in April and US meat bodies are hoping that Trump can regain access to the billion-dollar Chinese market, after it lifted its 13 year import ban last year.

Russian regulatory bodies have notified the World Trade Organisation of amendments seeking to distinguish between the labelling of dairy and non-dairy products. The changes would prevent all uses of dairy product names such as butter and cheese on labels where the product actually contained a non-dairy substitute.

Vietnam has emerged as Asia’s fastest-growing convenience market as it looks set to record an annual growth of 37.4% over the next four years. A shift from traditional to modern trade within Vietnamese convenience stores has been the main driver of market growth.