China's soybean import demand is expected to ease in the coming months as private crushers face negative crush margins and weak feed demand linked to shrinking hog herds. Soybeans were excluded from tariff relief announced after the Xi-Trump summit, keeping US cargoes uncompetitive with South American supplies. Domestic inventories at Chinese crushing plants have reached a 15-year high.
The European Commission has told Ukraine there are no plans to renegotiate its agricultural export quotas, rejecting Kyiv's request for expanded bioethanol access even as Russian strikes continue to damage Ukrainian infrastructure and constrain its exports.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's SOFIA 2026 report, launched at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, reveals that global aquaculture aquatic animal production reached 103 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the 100 million tonne threshold for the first time. Asia accounts for around 89% of farmed output, and aquaculture now supplies 53% of total aquatic animal production. FAO projects production could reach 214 million tonnes by 2034, though climate change and sustainability pressures pose risks.
China has published a 1,619-tariff-line list of U.S. products eligible for consideration for lower tariffs, covering corn, wheat, cotton, beef, pork, dairy and ethanol, but notably omitting commercial (non-seed) soybeans and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Actual tariff reductions remain pending domestic legal processes in each country, and the widely cited "30-for-30" figures represent a 2024 trade valuation benchmark rather than a purchasing or savings commitment.
Australia's Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has briefed stakeholders on the EU Deforestation Regulation, which is now confirmed to take effect from 31 December 2026 after two consecutive 12-month delays. Australian beef and lamb exporters shipping product from October 2026 onwards must comply with the new rules, with geolocation of supply properties being the primary requirement for Australia's "low-risk" country classification.
BASF has confirmed it is holding exploratory discussions with Evonik Industries AG and major Evonik shareholder RAG-Stiftung regarding a potential takeover of Evonik. The announcement, made on 25 September 2026, marks an early-stage development with no financial terms disclosed and the outcome described as open. The possible combination is relevant to the animal nutrition and feed ingredient sectors given Evonik's significant role in specialty amino acid production.
Agricultural commodity futures posted sharply divergent results in the week ending 25 September 2026, with November soybeans gaining 15½ cents to $13.19 per bushel and November feeder cattle surging nearly $14, while wheat contracts fell as much as 27¾ cents. China trade developments, harvest-season supply pressure, and commodity-specific fundamentals drove the split outcomes, according to a weekly market analysis published by Ag Bull on 26 September 2026.
A European Commission proposal to lower maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides not authorised in the EU could restrict market access for African agricultural exporters, including Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco and Uganda. A Joint Research Centre study published in August examined the potential economic impact across 235 commodities and 86 exporting countries. Kenya has raised the issue at the WTO, warning of shipment rejections and income losses for smallholder farmers. The proposal remains under consideration by the European Parliament and Council.
US weekly export sales for corn, soybeans, and wheat for the week ended September 17 all came in below or at the low end of trade expectations, with Pro Farmer citing a stronger US dollar and elevated prices as potential demand headwinds. Meanwhile, the US-China trade truce was extended by two months, and USDA reported a daily soybean sale to China.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council participated in the APEC High-Level Public-Private Dialogue on Food Security in Dalian, China, alongside nearly 150 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on U.S. sorghum trade, bilateral agricultural relations, and regional supply chain resilience.
The second day of the Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association (CLFMA) of India's 67th National Symposium in Mumbai brought together policymakers, industry leaders, scientists and farmers to address feed security, artificial intelligence, veterinary capacity and government-industry collaboration in India's animal-agriculture sector.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre has begun a formal redundancy consultation affecting up to 80 staff as it shifts strategy away from direct testing and towards a partner-led model, while insisting aquaculture remains central to its plans. The future of its co-owned Marine Aquaculture Innovation Centre (MAIC) at Otter Ferry Seafish in Argyll is under review, though Otter Ferry's managing director expects the facility to continue operating normally.