UK

The ban on UK lamb to Kuwait has been lifted following a new, five-year, £15m deal. Three major UK suppliers are already preparing shipments of lamb for the ports after the ban, which had originally been imposed due to concerns over scrapie, was removed.

Australia

The world meat price index has risen by 1.1%, driven mainly by higher beef prices as Australian ranchers rebuild their herds. This comes from the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) latest food price index, which shows food prices have risen for the seventh consecutive year.

South Africa

South Africa is set for a major recovery in its harvest compared with last year’s drought-hit production. This news come despite figures showing a 1.8% fall on global production of wheat from a record 2016 level. UN experts are expecting the supply-demand situation to remain broadly comfortable this year.

EU

Production of compound feed in the EU fell 1% to 153.4m tonnes in 2016. Low milk prices drove a decline in cattle feed production of 1.5%, while production of pig feed declined by 1.5% as cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Eastern Europe harmed production.