Asia & Oceania

The European Union's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety is conducting an assessment of Thailand's pesticide residue control system for plant products, including fruit and vegetables. The audit is being led by Pedro Moreno Valenzuela, with expert team members Amadeo Rodriguez Fernandez Alba and… read more

Early potato crops in eastern Cyprus have been adversely affected by strong coastal winds carrying sea salt, causing production issues in areas such as Ormidia, Xylofagou, Liopetri, and Sotira. Andreas Karyos from the Pancyprian Coordination of Potato Producers reported that portions of early potato fields have been impacted. read more

According to EastFruit, Egypt has strengthened its presence in the German sweet potato import market, surpassing competitors like the United States, China, Spain, and the Netherlands. In 2025, Germany imported 16,100 tons of sweet potatoes from Egypt, amounting to over €18 million (US$19.4 million). read more

Rupesh Sawant of Navsanjivan Organic FPO states that India's watermelon industry is witnessing significant export potential due to the expansion of acreage and improvement in quality. "States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh are increasing their production of export-ready watermelons by implementing better farming techniques and cultivating hybrid varieties." read more

The war in Iran has effectively stopped all trade between the country and its trading partners. Iran is not a significant partner for the EU in terms of fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Imports from Iran make up only 0.6% of the total European imports from third countries. Nonetheless, the 27 EU members are impacted by the disruption in trade. read more

Hungary is calling on the European Union to suspend tariffs and additional duties on fertilizer imports from Russia and Belarus. The Hungarian government cites increasing price pressure due to the conflict in Iran. In a letter to European commissioners, Agriculture Minister István Nagy highlighted the impact of higher fertilizer prices and potential supply shortages. read more

Egypt has firmly established itself as the dominant player in Germany’s sweet potato market, surpassing traditional suppliers including the United States, China, Spain, and the Netherlands, according to EastFruit. Germany imported 16,100 tons of Egyptian sweet potatoes in 2025, valued at more. read more

The date operations in Israel are continuing strongly, according to Izak Levi from the Israeli exporter Mial Impex. Levi mentions, "We have our own date fields and our farmers, with whom we have established long-term relationships, are growing for us. Essentially, that's the update for the day. We are currently harvesting all the crops." read more

In 2025, Azerbaijan imported 536 tonnes of avocados worth $2.7 million, as reported by the State Statistics Committee. This marked a 10% increase in import volumes compared to 2024, while the total value decreased by 25%, suggesting a drop in average prices. Peru maintained its position as the top supplier, providing 315 tonnes. read more

Brazil is preparing for a ginger campaign with increased supply, despite facing competition from China, logistical uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions impacting transportation costs in the international market. Patrick Santana, the sales director of Santana, stated this. read more

South African fruit exporters are still experiencing significant disruptions in the Middle East due to the conflict in Iran, with approximately 90 per cent of shipments to the region by sea being affected, as reported in a video on the Al Jazeera website. read more

Amazon has expanded its dedicated air cargo service, Amazon Air, to Northeast India by launching new routes connecting Kolkata and Guwahati. This expansion aims to enhance delivery speeds by up to five times in all seven sister states - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, read more

Horticultural Brand Management Australia (HBMA) has announced a change in its board, expressing gratitude to long-serving member Laurie Thompson for his contributions since the organization's establishment and welcoming Robert Thompson as a new director. read more

The Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) has announced the appointment of Ben Baldwin as its new chief executive officer, starting from 13 April 2026. read more

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has welcomed the Vietnam Ornamental Creature Association as a new member of the global organization, following approval by members during the AIPH General Meeting held as part of AIPH Meeting Sydney 2026. Established in 1989 under a read more

Tran Van Chuc, Sales & Purchasing Director at Truong An Trading Service Import & Export Co. Ltd. in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, received the first new season squash on March 4th. They received the Marron d'Or variety, which is the most premium squash variety grown under GlobalGAP standards in New Zealand. read more

Najnowsze napięcia między USA a Iranem wprowadziły na rynek importowanych jabłek i kiwi w Indiach chaos, gdy panika zakupowa spowodowała gwałtowne wzrosty cen, tylko po to, by kilka dni później nadmiar towaru spowodował ich załamanie - mówi pan Kiran Nair, dyrektor generalny Kingsfly Fresh Farm IMPEX. „Wszystko zaczęło się w 10. tygodniu, gdy pojawiły się informacje o zakłóceniach w read more

The greenhouse sector in Kazakhstan is undergoing a transition from growing tomatoes to cucumbers, in response to evolving market demand and export trends. In 2025, the greenhouse acreage dedicated to tomatoes decreased by 5.8%, while the area used for cultivating cucumbers increased by 11.6%. This shift has had a significant impact on the total output. read more

The flower market in Kazakhstan is currently experiencing a period of adjustment. There has been a decrease in imports of cut flowers and buds over the past year, which is attributed to changing trade dynamics and the increasing domestic production. Despite several exporting countries vying for market share, the role of Kazakhstan's flower market is evolving. read more

Hallans, an online Indian and Asian grocery store operating in the UK, has stated that customers may experience variations in the availability of Indian products due to the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The agreement was signed in 2025 and is currently in the process of ratification. read more