Here are the main highlights for some of Australia’s key commodities and economic influences this month. The full report covers the developments to watch in the upcoming weeks.
Nutrient density is becoming an important lens in the US food sector, shaping how consumers think about value, health, and product choice. For cold storage, this is not a simple volume-growth story, but we believe the shift will support above-trend cold-chain demand across both fresh and frozen categories. It should also create new revenue opportunities at a time when the North American cold storage sector is working through overcapacity and subdued occupancy.
The global weather body warned earlier in the year that a potentially strong El Nino was developing, and its latest update says the event is still gaining strength and is expected to influence weather through the coming months, including shifts in rainfall in many regions.For agriculture the early signs are mixed and vary sharply by region. Some growing areas remain relatively resilient despite increasing dryness, while others are seeing concern from too much rain.In Canada, heavy early season rain rebuilt soil moisture after years of drought and left crops in very strong mid season condition. A drier period followed and soil moisture fell, but vegetation remains healthy for now. Earlier planted crops are in a stronger position than later ones, and rain in the next few weeks will be important.In the United States the signal is weaker and less consistent at this stage, with a mixed history in similar years. Winter wheat in the southern belt can benefit from extra moisture, but much depends on when rain arrives and what growth stage the crop is in.In Brazil the emerging risk for wheat is excess rain in the main southern growing region. There is no major problem yet, but persistent wet conditions can make field management harder, increase disease pressure and affect grain quality if it continues into more sensitive stages.In Argentina the picture has improved. The season started dry but rain from mid July improved soil moisture, and conditions are now tracking closer to a favourable scenario compared to a poor year. The outlook remains dependent on rainfall staying adequate without becoming excessive later.In Australia crops still look good overall, but conditions are becoming less even. The west has turned drier and is starting to resemble a poor yield year, while the east remains better positioned for now, though forecasts point to below average rainfall ahead which could broaden the risk.In India the monsoon is producing a patchwork. Some regions are running below average with continued deficits that leave maize and soybeans exposed, while other areas have seen rainfall improve enough to support development. The national average hides large regional differences.Overall there are not yet widespread production losses, but pressure is rising in some regions. As the event strengthens, the next few weeks will be critical as many crops move into sensitive growth stages, with markets watching yield, quality and timing closely.
World Farming Agriculture and Commodity news - 17 Augustus 2026
Japan's chicken imports are projected to remain flat in 2027 compared with 2026, with strong demand continuing in both retail and food service sectors, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service post in Tokyo. Imports rose 6% year on year in the first half of 2026. Brazil and Thailand together accounted for 80% of Japan's total chicken imports, though Thai volumes contracted due to slower production growth while Brazilian volumes expanded on competitive pricing. Processed chicken products account for approximately 47% of Japan's total chicken imports and remain in high demand, as domestic labour shortages and elevated processing costs constrain local production capacity. Thai chicken holds a dominant position in this segment, supported by direct investment from Japanese meat companies in Thai processing facilities. Chinese chicken imports, which Japan permits only in heat-treated processed form, rose 20% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, driven by direct investment from Japanese companies in Chinese processing facilities.
A wholesale shift to free-range and organic egg production could raise greenhouse gas emissions by 60% and almost double land use, even as it improves hen welfare, according to research from the University of Oxford's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, compared several production scenarios for the UK egg industry — including shifts to barn, free-range and organic systems — while keeping total egg output constant. It found that cage-free systems may require larger hen populations and increase environmental pressures, and that transitioning away from caged systems without also improving mortality rates and feed efficiency is likely to worsen environmental impacts."Our research highlights the importance of considering animal welfare, environmental impact and food production together when shaping the future of egg farming," said Harriet Bartlett, senior research associate in sustainable food solutions at Oxford. "Being aware of these tricky trade-offs will help us make better decisions for the environment and animal welfare in the future."The study also found a significant rise in mortality for 100% free-range and organic systems. The authors acknowledged that the underlying data, collected between 2009 and 2010, does not capture more recent developments in laying-hen production, describing this as an important limitation, but said it remains the most comprehensive dataset available for UK laying-hen systems.Bartlett said the findings were not an argument for returning to caged systems, but called for a broader view of the trade-offs involved in transitioning egg production.
South Africa's Rainbow Chicken is prioritising international expansion as part of a strategy to diversify revenue and reduce reliance on the domestic market, according to a company-issued press release. The company points to Africa and the Middle East as its main areas of focus, citing rising populations, growing demand for affordable protein, and limited domestic production capacity in several markets.The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement features prominently in Rainbow's plans, with the company viewing it as a route to reduced trade barriers and improved market access across the continent. Export manager Charlene Bailey said the international push gives Rainbow an opportunity to diversify revenue streams and add value across the poultry chain.Quality assurance and traceability are central to the company's pitch to international buyers, who Rainbow says are placing growing emphasis on food safety, animal welfare, and supply chain transparency. The company said it has invested in aligning its operations with international customer requirements to support long-term relationships in export markets.Commercial partnerships are also playing a role in the strategy. Rainbow's arrangement with Burger King has already opened supply into two new regions, with a third expected to follow. The company frames such partnerships as a way to expand market reach beyond what trade agreements alone can deliver.Rainbow acknowledged that exporting remains complex, citing logistics, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, and disease and biosecurity management as ongoing challenges for poultry exporters operating across multiple jurisdictions.
US exports of nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder totalled just under 321,700 metric tons in the first half of 2026, down 3% from the same period last year and the weakest first-half performance since 2017, according to the US Dairy Export Council.Domestic production of the two products slipped to 981,000 MT in 2025, the lowest since 2013, as strong consumer demand for protein pulled skim solids away from dryers toward other uses. Spot prices for US nonfat dry milk reached as high as $2.295 per pound ($5,060 per MT) in May before declining to an average of $1.5675 per pound ($3,456 per MT) in the first week of August.
Mexico, the largest buyer of US milk powder, saw shipments fall 6% in the first half of the year. Central America and the Caribbean were down 21%, South America fell 9% and the Middle East and North Africa declined 55%.Southeast Asia was an exception, with exports growing 10% in the first half of 2026. The USDEC said long-term pricing contracts, particularly with the Philippines, insulated buyers from the most severe price increases, though exports to the region fell 22% in June when average export values climbed to $3,340 per MT.Combined production of nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder was up 6.6% year to date, but output fell in both May and June. The USDEC said fundamental supply constraints are likely to persist as consumer demand for protein continues to divert skim solids away from powder production.
Commodities
Commodity Prices
