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Peru’s Quinoa Exports Surge Amid US Health Trends

Peru’s quinoa exports to the US jumped 10% in Q1 2025, fueled by health food trends in cereals and snacks, but labor shortages are driving price hikes, reports Food Dive. Americas’ manufacturers face challenges securing quinoa as demand outpaces supply. Bolivia’s quinoa offers an alternative, though quality varies, prompting calls for...

Cocoa Prices Soar as West African Supplies Dwindle

Global cocoa prices surged 15% in May 2025 after a 10% production drop in Ivory Coast and Ghana, driven by drought and labor shortages, reports Food Business News. Americas’ confectionery manufacturers face rising chocolate costs, with some passing prices to consumers. South American cocoa from Ecuador and Peru is gaining traction,...

Mexico’s Avocado Exports Stalled by US Inspections

Tighter US inspections of Mexican avocados, prompted by safety concerns, triggered a 12% price surge in April 2025, delaying shipments, reports The Packer. Mexico, supplying 80% of US avocados, faces bottlenecks, impacting Americas’ processors for sauces and snacks. The delays, tied to stricter USDA protocols, could last months, pushing buyers toward...

US Port Congestion Disrupts Ingredient Supply Chains

The Port of Los Angeles reported a 33% drop in container arrivals last week, worse than during the Great Recession, driven by tariff fears and labor disputes, per The Washington Post. This congestion delays grains, oils, and spices by weeks, raising freight costs for Americas’ food manufacturers. Retailers warn of shortages...

US – China Trade Talks Promise Relief for Food Imports

Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “substantial progress” in US-China trade talks in Geneva, targeting a deal by May 12 to reduce tariffs on Chinese food ingredients like soy and spices, per Reuters. Current 145% tariffs have inflated costs for Americas’ manufacturers, disrupting supply chains for snacks and sauces. A...

Brazil’s Soybean Exports Face US Tariff Threats

Brazil’s soybean exports, a cornerstone of Americas’ food processing, are threatened by proposed 10% US tariffs, reports Bloomberg. Brazil supplied over 70% of China’s soy in 2024, but US trade actions could shift demand to Argentina, driving price volatility. Soybean port premiums hit $1 per bushel last week, with futures up...

Oat Fiber Market Grows Amid Gut-Health Trends

The U.S. oat fiber market is expanding 10% in 2025, fueled by gut-health trends in snacks and baked goods, reports NutraIngredients. Supply shortages, due to Midwest flooding, are driving price hikes, impacting manufacturers in the Americas. Canada’s oat production is helping, but logistics costs are a concern. Analysts suggest early...

U.S. Port Strikes Threaten Ingredient Trade in 2025

In April 2025, labor strikes at U.S. East Coast ports, driven by automation disputes, are delaying ingredient shipments by up to 10 days, reports the Journal of Commerce. The disruptions affecting grains and spices are raising freight costs for American food manufacturers. West Coast ports are seeing overflow, but capacity...

Walnut Prices Spike as U.S. Harvests Falt

Western Farm Press reports that California’s walnut harvest is down 10% in April 2025 due to water restrictions, pushing prices up 15%. The shortfall is straining supplies for American food manufacturers, who rely on walnuts for snacks and baked goods. Chile’s walnut exports fill some gaps, but logistics costs are...

U.S. Dairy Farmers Face Feed Cost Surge in 2025

Farm Journal reports that U.S. dairy farmers are grappling with a 12% rise in feed costs in April 2025, driven by drought-related grain shortages. This squeezes milk production, with output projected to drop 1.5%, inflating prices for dairy ingredients like whey and milk powders. Manufacturers in the Americas face higher...

U.S.-Brazil Trade Talks Stall, Impacting Ingredient Imports

In April 2025, stalled U.S.-Brazil trade negotiations over agricultural tariffs are disrupting ingredient imports, with 7% levies proposed on grains and oils, reports Reuters. Brazil, a key supplier to the Americas, faces delays as talks falter, raising costs for food manufacturers. The uncertainty is pushing buyers to seek alternative sources,...

U.S. Cheese Exports Surge Amid Global Demand

U.S. cheese exports rose 10% in Q1 2025, driven by demand in Mexico and Asia for cheddar and mozzarella, reports Dairy Foods. However, tight domestic supplies due to labor shortages are pushing prices up, challenging American manufacturers. Processors are exploring South American cheese to fill gaps, but quality consistency is...

U.S. Dairy Faces Antibiotic Regulation Crackdown

In April 2025, the U.S. FDA tightened regulations on antibiotic use in dairy farming, requiring stricter testing for residues in milk, following concerns about antimicrobial resistance, per a USDA update. Non-compliant farms risk supply chain exclusion, impacting ingredient availability. We’re ensuring clients access compliant dairy ingredients at BTG Ingredients. A...

Clean-Label Dairy Demand Spikes in Latin America

According to Euromonitor International, Latin America’s clean-label food market is projected to grow 8% in 2025. Consumers are demanding non-GMO and additive-free dairy ingredients, which is pushing manufacturers to reformulate products like yogurts and desserts. At BTG Ingredients, we’re meeting this demand with transparent dairy solutions. A Colombian dairy brand...

Panama Canal Delays Disrupt Ingredient Trade in 2025

April 2025 sees renewed congestion at the Panama Canal, with drought-related restrictions delaying ingredient shipments by up to two weeks, reports Reuters. These disruptions are hiking freight costs and threatening supply chains for food ingredients across the Americas, from spices to starches. We’re tackling these logistics challenges at BTG Ingredients....

Colombia’s Cocoa Exports Face Labor Shortages in 2025

Colombia’s cocoa industry is grappling with labor shortages in April 2025, as rural workers migrate to urban areas, reducing output and tightening cocoa powder supplies, reports The Wall Street Journal. This is challenging food manufacturers in the Americas.We’re addressing these supply risks at BTG Ingredients. A Canadian chocolatier recently relied...

U.S. Sugar Tariffs Spark Sweetener Price Hikes

In April 2025, U.S. tariffs on Mexican sugar imports, part of a renegotiated trade agreement, are driving up sweetener prices, with high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar costs rising 10%, reports Bloomberg. This is impacting food manufacturers across the Americas.At BTG Ingredients, we’re mitigating these price shocks for clients. A...

Brazil’s Dairy Exports Surge Amid Global Demand

According to a USDA report, Brazil’s dairy exports jumped 15% in Q1 2025, driven by demand for milk powders and whey in Asia and the Americas. However, rising domestic costs and currency fluctuations are challenging exporters, impacting ingredient pricing for global buyers. We’re helping clients capitalize on Brazil’s export boom...

Cold Chain Innovations Boost Grain and Dairy Trade

Logistics innovations are easing trade challenges, with cold chain advancements improving the transport of perishable grains and dairy. A Reuters report last week highlighted Hong Kong’s Kwai Tsing Container Terminals enhancing cold storage capacity, benefiting US exporters shipping to Asia. This is crucial as tariffs disrupt traditional routes, per the...

New Health Standards Impact Dairy Exports to China

China’s updated food safety standards, highlighted last week at the Canton Fair, are raising the bar for dairy imports. US and Brazilian exporters must comply with stricter testing for milk products, increasing costs but ensuring market access. With China’s retaliatory tariffs already at 145%, per Reuters on April 18, 2025,...

Plant-Based Demand Surges in Latin America

Consumer shifts toward plant-based diets are driving grain demand in Latin America, with Brazil seeing a spike in quinoa and soy exports to China last week, per Bloomberg. This trend, fueled by health-conscious buyers, offers opportunities for grain traders as US tariffs redirect Chinese imports. However, meeting organic certification standards...

Anti-Trump Protests Disrupt Dairy Trade Logistics

Nationwide anti-Trump protests on April 19, 2025, reported by The Guardian, are disrupting logistics in the US, with rallies in cities like New York and San Francisco delaying dairy shipments. These protests, targeting Trump’s policies, coincide with a 10% baseline tariff on imports, per Yahoo Finance, increasing costs for dairy...

Dairy Sector Adapts to AI and Robotics Amid Trade Pressures

Last week, on April 15, 2025, Fox News highlighted the rise of robotics in dairy farming, with companies like Lely automating milking and feeding tasks. This trend, boosting efficiency on US farms, is critical as tariffs increase operational costs. North American dairy exports are set to drop 12.6% this year,...

Grain Markets See Opportunity in Latin America’s Rising Demand

China’s redirection of exports, projected to rise 4-9% outside North America per the WTO on April 16, 2025, is boosting Latin American grain demand. Brazil and Argentina are filling gaps left by US tariffs, with increased shipments to China and other regions. This shift, reported by Bloomberg, offers opportunities for...

Regulatory Shifts Affecting Ingredient Trade

New regulations in 2025—including USMCA adjustments and updated Chinese food safety standards—are reshaping the trading business. According to the USDA, these changes require updated compliance measures, impacting export/import processes across the Americas and China and potentially increasing costs. BTG Recommendation Stay current on evolving trade regulations and engage with industry...

Supply Chain Disruptions Hit Dairy Trade

Tariffs are causing significant supply chain disruptions, with border delays and higher logistics costs affecting dairy shipments. This week, these issues are leading to ingredient shortages and production delays across the Americas and China, according to Dairy Foods. Dairy traders are impacted and must manage operations proactively. BTG Advice Diversify...

Currency Volatility Challenges Ingredient Trade

Currency fluctuations, driven by global trade tensions, are impacting ingredient trading. A stronger U.S. dollar raises export costs for dairy and grains, while a weaker dollar increases import expenses. These shifts squeeze profit margins in an already volatile economic environment, particularly affecting traders in the Americas. BTG Suggestion Use forward...

Grain Prices Surge This Week

Grain markets, vital for dairy feed, are experiencing volatility due to ongoing trade disputes. Corn and soybean prices rose, driven by U.S.–China tariffs and supply concerns, according to Farm Futures. Higher costs are increasing milk production expenses, which impacts dairy ingredient pricing and trade—particularly across the Americas — with indirect...

US-China Trade Tensions Hit Dairy and Grain Exports

Recent developments, reported on April 11, 2025, by Dairy Reporter, indicate that China has imposed 10–15% tariffs on U.S. dairy and agricultural products, including grains, in response to U.S. tariffs. This affects key dairy exports like milk powder and cheese and grain shipments critical for feed, impacting U.S. exporters reliant...

Latin American Grain Demand Grows Amid U.S. Tariffs

Latin America’s grain demand is rising, with Brazil and Argentina expanding exports to China as U.S. tariffs disrupt traditional trade flows. As of April 2025, this shift presents new opportunities for grain traders, according to the FAO, but also requires navigating unfamiliar trade routes and regulatory frameworks—reshaping trade dynamics across...