Foodcom Experts

The dairy market is showing increasingly divergent trends: proteins remain the strongest segment, powders are becoming more expensive in the short term, and butter is stabilizing despite high stocks.

China has ended its investigation into subsidies for EU agricultural producers and announced new tariffs on dairy imports from the EU. The maximum rate will be 11.7% and will replace the much higher provisional tariffs previously in place.

High milk supplies are putting pressure on liquid segments, while whey proteins are reaching record price levels. Buyers are mainly focused on securing volumes for late Q1 and Q2, maintaining a cautious approach to the spot market.

The global sugar market enters the 2025/26 season in a phase of oversupply and stock rebuilding, which improves the physical availability of the raw material. At the same time, the market remains sensitive to political and trade decisions, which will be more important for prices in the near term than the crop volumes themselves.

Cocoa growers in Ghana have not been paid for part of the harvest delivered, even though the season is already underway. The lack of money makes it difficult for them to prepare for the next harvest and increases the risk of a drop in production.

High milk supplies are putting pressure on liquid segments, while whey proteins are reaching record price levels. Buyers are mainly focused on securing volumes for late Q1 and Q2, maintaining a cautious approach to the spot market.

The European Union is preparing to impose tariffs on US goods worth up to €93 billion. This is in response to trade threats from the United States and growing political tensions.

India and the European Union are close to concluding their years-long negotiations on a broad trade agreement. According to the Indian side, the agreement could be finalised as early as January 2026.

The Global Soybean Market Report 2025/2026 shows how record supply, changes in throughput, the role of biofuels and increasing environmental regulations are impacting global prices, trade and demand patterns.

After the Christmas disruption, the dairy market enters the new year with improved liquidity, a selective price rebound and a cautious approach by market participants to further hedge positions.

The ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement has provoked opposition from farmers in several Member States. Producers in France and Ireland are particularly concerned, pointing to the risk of falling prices and loss of competitiveness.

French farmers drove tractors into Paris on Thursday morning, blocking streets and roads leading to the capital in protest against a planned EU agreement with Mercosur countries. The demonstrations are also in opposition to the government's policies on agriculture and its response to cattle diseases.