Trump Announces US Trade Deal With Vietnam, Including 20% Import Tariff
President Trump announced that the United States has agreed to a new trade deal with Vietnam on July 2.
Trump stated that Vietnam will pay the US a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the U.S. and a 40% tariff on transshipped goods. The higher 40% tariff targets products that are not originally made in Vietnam but are routed through the country to bypass higher tariffs. This move is significant, as many countries have used Vietnam as a transit point to avoid stricter trade penalties aimed at Chinese...
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Expana Publication Schedule for The Fourth of July Holiday
Expana will be observing the Fourth of July holiday on Friday, July 4, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices.
The following weekly reports will be impacted:
The regular publishing schedule will resume on...
Navigating the Trump Tariff Turbulence: A Comprehensive Timeline
US President Donald Trump and his administration have paused reciprocal tariffs on most countries.
“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown... I am hereby raising the [tariff] charged to China by the [USA] to 125%, effective immediately,” wrote Trump on Truth Social at 1:18 pm ET.
It’s not clear if this 125% is in addition to the 20% imposed on Chinese imports to the US. In early March, Trump noted that he would add another 10% tariff on Chinese goods...
PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 30 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, June 2025 Overview
Expana presents Agri-Food for Thought, the podcast series for agriculture and food professionals.
Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in June 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.
June 2025 M&A activity picked up marginally compared to previous months. The ongoing tariffs situation, looming deadlines, other trade disputes, and market uncertainty, have a role to play here.
European Investment Bank, CaixaBank Set €180 Mln in Agricultural Loans in Spain
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the long-term lending institution of the European Union, and the Spanish bank CaixaBank have announced a new line of funding for small businesses and mid-caps in the agricultural sector of €180 million.
The funding will go to projects for the modernisation of the sector and rural development. The EIB believes the “operation will help to boost the competitiveness of small businesses and mid-caps" in the agricultural and bioeconomy sectors...
Trump, Carney Agree to Resume US-Canada Trade Negotiations
Trade discussions between the United States and Canada resumed late Sunday after Canada announced it would withdraw its proposed digital services tax targeting major US technology firms.
On June 27, President Trump stated that due to Canada’s intention to impose a tax on US tech firms, the US would halt all trade discussions with its northern neighbor “effective immediately.”
The tax was to take effect on Monday, June 30. According to the New York Times, the 3% digital services tax on major US tech firms like Meta, Amazon and...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Values Diverge from Conventional as Regional Demand Builds
After months of narrowing, the spread between cage-free and conventional quotations widened this week as the two markets moved in opposite directions—an uncommon divergence. Historically, both categories move in tandem, shaped by similar demand and usage dynamics...
US–China Trade Framework Advances, but Final Terms Still in Flux; Lutnick Hints at More Deals
The United States and China have inked a new trade agreement, President Donald Trump said on June 26.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick mirrored the news during an interview with Bloomberg TV, stating that the deal was signed in recent days. Neither Trump nor Lutnick shared further details.
Expana reported on June 11 that Lutnick said the US and China agreed to a trade framework, and the latest comments from both Lutnick and Trump don’t seem to add much...
Study Finds 61% of US Consumers are Scaling Back on Restaurants, Spending Less on Groceries
As tariffs and inflation continue to impact consumers, Americans are spending less on food. According to Popmenu, which currently serves over 10,000 restaurants, 67% of consumers are scaling back their budgets.
The nationwide study tracked the dining and spending habits of 1,000 people 21 and older from June 16 to June 17, 2025. When asked to name the areas where they are cutting back the most, restaurants landed the number one spot, with 61% saying they are eating out less and staying in...
UNFI Restores Core Systems After Major Cyberattack Disruption
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) announced that it has safely restored the core systems its customers and suppliers use after suffering a significant cyberattack earlier this month.
“With our electronic ordering and invoicing systems back online, we are delivering products to grocery stores across our network at more normalized levels,” the company said in a June 26 statement. “We are grateful to all our customers and suppliers for their patience and partnership as our UNFI associates continue working to support their needs...
ANALYSIS: YTD EU Egg Exports Down Amid Production Challenges and High Prices
EU egg and egg product exports have declined in the first four months of 2025, dropping to 148,161 tons (egg equivalent weight) from 154,704 tons during the same period last year. This marks a 4.2% year-on-year decrease, indicating a challenging period for the European egg industry. While some export markets such as the UK and Israel have shown growth, the overall trend is downward, with notable declines in shipments to Japan and Thailand and only marginal changes in exports to Switzerland.
The primary factor behind this export contraction is the significant reduction in EU egg production, driven largely by the impact of...
The Retail Rundown: Independence Day Deals in Focus
As the Fourth of July holiday draws closer, competition for front-page ad space among proteins is heating up. Seafood is currently leading with a 29% share, followed by beef and pork, each capturing 24%. Chicken accounts for 18%, while turkey trails at 2.6%.
Burgers and hot dogs remain backyard barbecue mainstays. Several national grocers were promoting 78–84% lean ground beef under $5 per pound, with eye-catching specials as low as $2.27 on a discounted basis.
Over Father's Day weekend...
Poland, France Push Back Against at Mercosur Deal
Annie Genevard, France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty and Czesław Siekierski, the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, met in Paris on Wednesday. After the meeting, both showed a united front against the EU-Mercosur deal.
France and Poland have been two of the most vocal opponents to the deal signed in December, after around two decades of negotiations. They argue that the deal will not be beneficial for EU agriculture, despite its possible positive effects in other sectors.
“To put it plainly: we cannot sacrifice agriculture...
Gartner Says Supply Chain Leaders Must Address Three Priorities Amid Impacts of Israel-Iran Conflict
To help organizations navigate the ongoing impacts posed by the Israel-Iran conflict, Gartner Inc. has identified three critical priorities for chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) to implement now to secure their operations.
In response to the ongoing impacts from the conflict, CSCOs should:
“As the conflict between Israel and Iran oscillates, CSCOs must leverage...
Ahold Delhaize USA Names Jason Wilson Chief Financial Officer
Wilson to Lead Financial Strategy and Operations for Largest Grocery Retail Group on the East Coast
Leading grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA announced that Jason Wilson, a recognized retail and finance executive in the grocery industry and longtime leader at Ahold Delhaize USA companies, has been named Chief Financial Officer. In his new position, Wilson oversees financial strategy and operations, playing an instrumental role in supporting the omnichannel growth of the U.S. businesses, delivering the company’s Growing Together strategy and 2028 commitments and ensuring strong financial controls...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Market Faces Cross-Sector Pull Amid Shared Supply, Divided Demand
Cage-free values held steady this week at $3.16/dozen. Despite flat quotations, behind-the-scenes movement was more dynamic, driven by a tightening spread between cage-free and conventional prices and a regional surge in demand—most notably along the West Coast.
The price gap between Urner Barry’s rest-of-market cage-free quote and the Midwest large conventional quote has narrowed to just 4cts, marking the tightest spread since the cage-free quote was introduced in 2024...
South Africa To Allow Brazilian Poultry from Regions Other Than Rio Grande do Sul
South Africa will allow poultry imports from Brazil outside of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The country had banned imports of poultry products from Brazil after that country confirmed its first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial farm in May. South Africa was among the group of countries, which included China and EU members, that had banned all Brazilian poultry.
Following no new cases in commercial farms, Brazil began to campaign to restart trade via regionalization agreements...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14
Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #14."
This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...
Eggs From the Indian Namakkal District Exported to US For the First Time
For the first time, eggs from the Namakkal district in India have been exported to the US, Ricky Thaper, Joint Secretary at the Poultry Federation of India, confirmed. He added that around “21 containers each carrying around 4.75 lakh eggs.” A lakh of eggs is equal to 100,000 eggs.
C. Panneerselvam, president of the Tamil Nadu Egg Exporters Association said there were 20 air-conditioned containers, carrying around 10 million eggs from Thoothukudi port, and they were expected to arrive to the US next week.
"Based on consumer feedback from the U.S., further negotiations will be held regarding continued exports," Panneerselvam added.
Expana Will be Observing the Juneteenth Holiday Thursday, June 19
Expana will be observing the Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, June 19, which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. All US offices will be closed on the day; daily reports will not be published, and the following weekly reports will be impacted:
The Retail Rundown: Grocers Set Stage for Final Summer Push
With Father’s Day in the rearview, grocers are setting the stage for the final big buying event of the summer: the Fourth of July.
The upcoming holiday marks the last major retail push before Labor Day and serves as a key buying window for proteins like beef ahead of the mid-summer lull. To keep product moving, grocers are expected to lean heavily on promotions and feature aggressive pricing in the coming weeks.
Post-Father’s Day, pork and chicken are poised to capture more...
DHS Reverses Pause on ICE Raids, Targeting Farms, Hotels, and Restaurants
Days after the Trump administration ordered a pause on immigration raids targeting the agriculture and hospitality industries, the Department of Homeland Security has reversed course, authorizing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to resume worksite enforcement at farms, hotels, and restaurants, according to the Washington Post.
The publication reported that ICE held a call on June 16 to direct agency leaders that raids could occur at farms, hotels, and restaurants. Representatives from 30 field offices across the US were informed of the new instructions via the call...
Datassential Lists Chick-fil-A as America's Favorite Chain Restaurant
On June 12, 2025, food and beverage intelligence platform Datassential announced the winners of the first-ever Datassential 500 Awards, showcasing the most dynamic foodservice brands in the United States. Notable winners include Chick-fil-A (favorite chain), Crumbl (most unique restaurant menu), and CAVA (best healthy chain).
Founded in 2001, Datassential has been providing food and beverage brands with intelligence tools and consumer insights for more than two decades, including quintessential companies like Starbucks, General Mills, Land O' Lakes, Pepsi, Burger King, and Target...
Circana’s ‘Eat Play Love’ Report Shows Consumer Indulgence Despite Conservative Daily Spending
On June 12, 2025, Circana released its latest report on consumer spending trends, titled “Eat Play Love,” revealing how European consumers are turning to comfort despite ongoing economic pressures, climate concerns, and global conflicts that continually shape daily life.
According to the report, despite exercising frugality with everyday purchases, European consumers are currently prioritizing food retail, foodservice, prestige beauty, and toy purchases, thus indicating a shift towards “self-soothing consumption” and “mini moments of bliss.”
The report leverages Circana's extensive coverage of European consumer goods across hundreds of...
ICE Told to Pause Worksite Raids in Agriculture, Hospitality Sectors by Trump Administration
The Trump administration will reportedly direct US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to pause raids on businesses operating in the agricultural, restaurant, and hotel industries.
According to the New York Times, an internal email and three US officials confirmed the adjustment to President Trump’s deportation and immigration policies.
The email obtained by the publication directed ICE officials to “hold on all work site enforcement investigations/operations on agriculture (including aquaculture and meat packing plants), restaurants and operating hotels...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #13."
Global Commodities Markets – Q2 2025 Trends and Forecasts
Welcome to the Global Commodities Markets: Q2 2025 trends and forecasts report, where we examine key developments in the global commodity markets.
In an ever-changing economic landscape, getting key insights on essential commodities is crucial for stakeholders across industries.
Each quarter, this report will focus on a few commodities with significant price fluctuations, delivering insights and forward-looking analysis.
Further commodity insights can be explored on the Expana platform, where you’ll find real-time price tracking, access to industry experts and customized alerts...
Austria And Hungary Join France in Concerns over Mercosur Deal
Representatives from Austria and Hungary met with the French Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Annie Genevard. During the meeting, they “reiterated their strong concerns regarding the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries,” the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty said.
"Significant quantities of imported products produced under lower standards could lead to the exclusion of European agricultural products,” István Nagy, the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture said. This could, the minister added, weigh on prices and on the profitability of EU...
Commerce Secretary Lutnick: US-China Trade Deal Framework Finalized
United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced that the US and China have agreed to a trade framework after two days of negotiations in London.
After what reports described as “intense negotiations,” Lutnick told reporters that the framework builds upon an agreement made last month to ease triple-digit retaliatory tariffs.
In a social media post on June 11, President Trump said that a deal with China was done and called the trade relationship with China “excellent.” However, further details regarding the deal were not made public...
The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Father’s Day Protein Promotions; CPI Shows Mild Increase
For Father’s Day weekend, seafood leads retail protein promotions, accounting for 28% of total ad volume. Beef follows at 24.8%, with pork close behind at 23.6%. Chicken claims 19% of protein ads, while turkey makes up about 3%.
Egg features remain limited for now but are on track to gain ground next week amid improving retail demand. While egg consumption typically slows around this time of year due to reduced baking and fewer hot breakfasts, eggs are emerging as one of the few proteins seeing price relief at retail—standing out amid peak seasonal...
Mexico Relaxes Brazilian Poultry Ban, But Mauritania, Oman Expand It
Mexico, along with 46 other countries, initially banned all poultry imports from Brazil after the South American country confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu on a commercial farm on May 15. Mexico has now relaxed the countrywide ban to just exports from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where the outbreak was detected.
In contrast, Mauritania has banned all imports of chicken meat from all of Brazil, and Oman from Rio Grande do Sul.
Brazil has been advocating for countries to limit the ban...
Convenience Store M&A Activity Suggests More Consolidation is Coming
The pace of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. convenience store sector is accelerating with recent trends suggesting the nation’s c-store landscape is ripe for more change. While most of the transactions in 2024 involved smaller chains or single-store operators, several larger operators inked deals to significantly expand their footprints into new regions.
According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, c-store consolidation stands to disproportionally affect rural communities, many of which lack a grocery store or access...
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Shelled Eggs
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to brown cage free eggs and brown certified organic eggs supplied by August Egg Company, Hilmar, CA.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 79 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 24, 2025, to May 17, 2025. Twenty-seven of 30 cases with information available reported exposure to eggs or...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #12."
EU Egg Market Sentiment Heading Into Summer
As the EU egg market moves into the summer period, sentiment is becoming increasingly two-sided. Summer is traditionally marked by a seasonal slowdown in trading activity, as consumer habits shift and production schedules ease.
This seasonal dip has already begun to take hold, with buying interest noticeably subdued throughout May. However, the usual expectations of softer summer demand are being weighed against a backdrop of heightened supply-side risk. Concerns over future availability, particularly following avian influenza-related flock reductions in Poland—are beginning to shape market psychology...
ANALYSIS: EU Egg Imports Climb Further in Q1 2025, Led by Ukraine
EU egg imports continued to rise in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 39,067 MT in egg equivalent weight, according to the latest figures from the European Commission. This marks a significant year-over-year (YoY) increase from 26,061 MT in Q1 2024, and extends the steady upward trend observed since 2022. Much of this growth was once again driven by Ukraine, which accounted for 29,459 MT, up 77% from the same period last year.
Fresh shell eggs remain the dominant import category, totalling 25,341 MT in Q1...
The Retail Rundown: Pork Deals Deliver Summer Savings
Pork promotions are gaining momentum, with value-priced cuts standing out against higher-priced beef and even some chicken items.
Bacon continues to steal the spotlight in the pork category, fueled by strong seasonal demand as consumers stock up on this summer staple. Over Memorial Day, discounted bacon averaged $6.30 per pound, up nearly 3% from last year. Wholesale belly prices have climbed 13% since early April, supported by tightening hog supplies and historically low cold storage stocks.
As grilling season gains momentum, demand for ribs...
Cal-Maine Foods Closes Acquisition of Echo Lake Foods
Cal-Maine Foods announced today the closing of its acquisition of Echo Lake Foods.
In April, it disclosed it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Echo Lake Foods in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $258 million.
At the time, Cal-Maine CEO Sherman Miller said the acquisition would help diversify the company’s product mix, especially in light of ongoing egg shortages related to avian influenza. The deal also strengthens Cal-Maine’s position in the growing market for value-added...
Mastering Market Volatility: 5 Minutes with Little Caesars’ Derek Nelson
In today’s volatile market, where shifts in agrifood commodity prices can significantly impact your bottom line, understanding and managing risk is paramount. Derek Nelson, Director of Commodity Risk & Analytics at Little Caesars, exemplifies this proactive approach in his role leading hedging operations for this global restaurant chain.
Ahead of his participation at Expana’s Agri-Food Americas event in September, Derek spoke with us to share insights into how a global brand navigates the complexities of dairy, grains, protein and energy markets...
Volatility Defines 2025 in Food and Agriculture Markets – How do You Navigate It?
2025 has been a year marked by uncertainty in the food and agriculture sector. Volatility is the defining characteristic, with a cascade of global events disrupting pricing, availability and trade dynamics. From geopolitical tensions and severe weather events to animal epidemics and macroeconomic shifts, commodity markets have become increasingly difficult to navigate for buyers and sellers alike.
“The key challenge for businesses at the moment is having to navigate different markets going in different directions,” said Tom Bundgaard, VP of Price Forecasting...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Prices Continue to Decline, Though Late-Week Buying Slows Pace
Cage-free egg values continued to slide this week, with wholesale prices falling to $3.16/dozen—a 15% drop from the previous week. While this May has followed a “typical” seasonal pattern for the egg market, subtle changes have begun to emerge as the week progresses—developments not uncommon in late Q2 that hint at a possible turn in the recent market trajectory.
May is traditionally one of the weakest months for shell egg demand, and this year has been no exception...
PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep. 29 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, May 2025 Overview
Today, we bring you up to speed with merger & acquisition activity in the global agrifood landscape that occurred in May 2025 as part of the monthly M&A focus series.
May 2025 was generally quieter in terms of M&A compared to previous months. There are many factors influencing this but the ongoing tariffs situation, trade disputes, and market uncertainty, likely playe a role here.
ALDI Announces Promotion of Atty McGrath to ALDI US CEO
ALDI U.S. is excited to announce that Jason Hart, ALDI U.S. Chief Executive Officer, has been promoted to join the Executive Board of ALDI South as Group Chief Operating Officer. Hart will help oversee the company's global operations in Salzburg, Austria, effective September 1. Atty McGrath, currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the ALDI U.S. Chief Executive role.
During his decade-long leadership as ALDI U.S. CEO, Hart has led the rapid expansion and development of the...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #11."
Signing the EU-Mercosur Agreement by December Is Possible, Says European Council President
The EU and Mercosur countries expect to sign the agreement in a December ceremony. “It is a short timeframe, but we are going to try to make it happen,” Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, said during a visit to Brazil on Thursday.
Costa added that the European Commission is in the process of translating the agreement into the 24 EU official languages and plans to finish it by July.
While farming sectors in some EU countries such as France or Spain have expressed concern...
71% of Canadian and 43% of Mexican Consumers Intend to Buy Fewer US Grocery Products, Study Reveals
Seventy-one percent of Canadian and 43% of Mexican consumers report they will buy fewer U.S. grocery products in 2025 according to the tenth wave of the dunnhumby Consumer Trends Tracker (CTT) released today. Canada and Mexico are the two largest agricultural trading partners of the U.S. According to the USDA, in 2024 the U.S. exported 33% of its agricultural products to Canada and Mexico, totaling over $58 billion out of $176 billion of total U.S. agricultural...
Teamsters at Kroger Authorize Strike
Drivers at Kroger's Forest Park fulfillment center have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike in response to the company's repeated refusal to negotiate a fair agreement. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 528, are demanding a first Teamsters contract with strong wages, good benefits, and enforceable workplace protections.
"Kroger needs to stop dragging its feet and deliver a real offer that respects the work we do," said Marion Jackson, a Kroger driver and Local 528 shop steward. "This company can more than afford what we're asking for. We are ready...
USDA and Mexico Invest in Joint Effort to Eradicate New World Screwworm
On a recent call, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook L. Rollins and Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué Sacristán, discussed ongoing efforts to contain the threat of New World Screwworm (NWS) south of the US-Mexico border. The USDA shared an update on the partnership via its website.
As part of this effort, the USDA announced a $21 million investment to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The goal is to produce an additional...
The Retail Rundown: Father’s Day Fires Up Demand for Premium Cuts
Meat sales over Memorial Day weekend appeared to underperform in some regions this year, as cool weather across the Midwest curbed outdoor grilling activity.
Retailers are now setting their sights on the next major grilling event, Father’s Day, paired with hopes for improved weather. Falling on June 15th this year, the event presents another opportunity to drive protein consumption.
This week’s retail buying opportunities are led by seafood, which accounts for 28.2% of protein ads. Beef has 26.4%, trailed by pork at 23.2%, chicken at 18%, and turkey with...
The Bird Flu “Outbreak in Montenegro Is Completely Contained,” Brazil Says
“We are on the fifth working day after the farm was completely disinfected, and 15 days have passed since the outbreak was identified. I can safely assure you that the outbreak in Montenegro is completely contained,” Carlos Fávaro, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, said on Tuesday in a public hearing at the Agriculture and Agrarian Reform Committee (CRA).
The hearing was to discuss the “zoosanitary emergency” resulting from bird flu, which has resulted in over 60 countries limiting some or all Brazilian poultry products after...
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Price Erosion Accelerates as Buying Interest Fades
Cage-free values continue to decline sharply, dropping 68cts over the past week. While cage-free transactional values had recently been under pressure, the conventional market had provided some support to the broader category through down-packing flexibility. That dynamic has now shifted, as seasonal trends take hold and the entire egg market faces widespread downward pressure.
The primary driver behind cage-free weakness is soft retail demand. Retailers—especially in California and other states with mandatory cage-free laws—have shown reluctance to put eggs on feature...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #10."
Executives from Kroger, Publix, Sysco and Walmart Join GS1 US Board of Governors
The GS1 US Board of Governors has elected four industry leaders to join the GS1 US Board: Benjamin Hamilton, vice president, supply chain planning, Kroger; Brad Oliver, senior vice president of product business development, Publix Super Markets, Inc.; Greg Keller, senior vice president, national accounts, Sysco, SYGMA, and Guest Worldwide; and Greg Cathey, senior vice president, transformation and innovation, Walmart. Additionally, Brian Dick, president and CEO, Golden State Foods, has been appointed vice chairman.
These executives comprise a cross-industry Board of Governors...
The Retail Rundown: Seafood Leads Memorial Day Retail Ads; Weather Poses Challenges
Seafood leads retail protein promotions heading into Memorial Day weekend, accounting for 28.7% of total featured protein ad volume. Pork follows at 25.9%, with beef at 21.3% and chicken at 19.3%.
Egg feature volume is virtually absent amid sluggish retail demand. Warmer weather is prompting a shift toward fruit and cereal for breakfast, while elevated, though easing, shelf prices continue to dampen consumer interest, according to Expana.
Within the seafood category, fresh and frozen fillets represent the largest share of advertised items at nearly 28%. Raw shrimp...
Feeder Vessel Transfers Disqualify Cargo from In-Transit Tariff Exemption Under IEEPA
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has provided clarification regarding the application of the in-transit tariff exemption under the Reciprocal Tariff Executive Order, with specific implications for feeder vessel operations. In guidance released on May 15, CBP confirmed that cargo transferred from a feeder vessel to a US-bound vessel after April 5, 2025, will not qualify for the in-transit exemption.
Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), cargo that was loaded before April 5 and remains...
Expana Honors an Industry Legend and the Next Generation with Awards
The award ceremony at this year’s Executive Conference, the event for leaders in the animal protein sector, featured the annually presented Rising Star Award sponsored by Farm Credit, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
In its third year, the Rising Star Award is presented to a protein industry newcomer who is striving towards innovation, collaboration and success for not only their business but the wider sector. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has had a multi-faceted and distinguished career in...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #9."
GSF Promotes Bill Chiou to Vice President, Global Applications & Welcomes Guillermo Hernandez Garcia
In recent leadership news, GSF is pleased to announce the promotion of Bill Chiou to Vice President, Global Applications and the appointment of Guillermo Hernandez Garcia as Group Vice President, Supply Chain.
In late April, Bill assumed his elevated information technology role of Vice President, Global Applications. In this position, he oversees the strategic development, implementation, management, and continuous improvement of GSF’s global applications portfolio. He ensures business applications support and advance the company’s strategic objectives, operational efficiency, and digital transformation initiatives across all divisions and geographies.
Brazil Confirms First Bird Flu Outbreak on Commercial Poultry Farm in Nearly 20 Years
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) confirmed on Friday, May 16 an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in a breeder facility for commercial poultry. The outbreak was detected on May 15 in the municipality of Montenegro, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where one of the largest poultry production facilities in the country is located.
“This is the first HPAI outbreak detected in Brazil’s commercial poultry farming system,” Mapa said, and added that containment and eradication measures...
The Retail Rundown: Pre-Grilling Season Retail Insights
With Memorial Day fast approaching, retailers are ramping up promotions to jumpstart the unofficial kickoff to the summer grilling season—a crucial window for driving foot traffic and boosting meat department sales.
The next two weeks are key, as market participants closely watch consumer demand ahead of what is typically one of the busiest periods for beef sales. Protein items are being prominently showcased alongside vibrant seasonal produce, enhancing the appeal of in-store displays.
Seafood leads the protein feature mix this week, accounting for nearly 30% of all advertised protein items...
China, UK Trade Talks Pose Positive Opportunities for US Animal Food Industry
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is pleased to see a cooling of U.S. tariffs on and retaliatory tariffs from China and a proposed trade agreement with the United Kingdom coming to fruition, given discussions late last week and over the weekend between the U.S. and respective countries’ trade officials. Both China and the United Kingdom present valuable opportunities for U.S. animal food manufacturers, which produce some of the safest, highest quality and innovative feed, feed ingredients and pet food globally...
Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8
Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #8."
US Foods Achieves Solid Q1 Results with Gains Across Key Segments
US Foods has released its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, highlighting strong performance driven by a focused strategy and the company's ability to manage controllable factors while adapting to broader macroeconomic conditions.
“During the first quarter we outperformed the industry and again delivered strong profitability, with Adjusted EBITDA growing 9% and Adjusted Diluted EPS increasing 26%, despite the challenging operating environment and weather-related headwinds. Our results speak to the strength of our customer value proposition and relentless execution of our strategy,”...
49th Executive Conference Highlights Resilience and Future Outlook of Animal Protein Sector
This year’s Executive Conference held in Las Vegas from May 5–7 for senior leaders in the animal protein sector, was an informative show of the industry’s and what we can expect from the protein sector in the coming years.
“We feed the ever-growing needs of the entire population,” said Russ Whitman, Expana’s Director of Market Reporting, in his opening remarks.
Despite challenges related to animal health, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical tensions, the industry has demonstrated remarkable perseverance.
Secretary Rollins Requires States to Provide Records on SNAP Benefits
Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will require States to make certain all records associated with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and allotments are shared with the federal government.
“President Trump is rightfully requiring the federal government to have access to all programs it funds,” said Secretary Rollins, “and SNAP is no exception. For years, this program has been on autopilot, with no USDA insight into real-time data. The Department is focused on appropriate and lawful participation in SNAP, and today’s request is one of many steps to ensure SNAP is preserved for only those eligible...
The Retail Rundown: Grocers Take on Foodservice for a Slice of Mother’s Day Spending
Grocers are gearing up to win a slice of Mother’s Day sales, which are traditionally dominated by restaurants and dining out. While foodservice still captures the lion’s share of spending, supermarkets are making strategic plays to compete for consumers' dollars.
According to the National Retail Federation, Mother’s Day spending is projected to hit $34.1 billion this year—up from $33.5 billion in 2024 and just shy of the 2023 record of $35.7 billion. About 84% of US adults are expected to celebrate, spending an average of $259.04 on gifts and festivities...
PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 28 - M&A in the Global Agri-Food Industry, April 2025 Overview
M&A in the global agri-food industry is an ongoing and very regular trend. Although many companies are hitting the brakes on M&A as they face tariffs and market uncertainty, hundreds of deals continue to take place each month.
On today's episode of Agri-Food for Thought, we showcase selected mergers and acquisitions in the agri-food sector that took place in April 2025.
ANALYSIS: Cage-Free Market Strains Under Retail Price Pressure
Cage-free egg values continue to slide, diverging from the recent strength in negotiated values seen in the conventional market. Demand remains subdued nationwide, especially along the West Coast, where mandatory cage-free states like California, Oregon, and Washington are experiencing limited consumer interest amid elevated shelf prices.
With prices hovering at $5.50/dozen or higher among most retail chains out West, many consumers appear unwilling to pay up. While a few membership-club type stores offer more competitive pricing, their limited accessibility means most consumers don’t benefit. As a result, most retailers are ordering more conservatively, reducing the need to replenish inventory. This has led to a buildup in available offerings and added downward pressure to the market...
FEATURED STORIES
ANALYSIS: Summer Squeeze, Limited Turkey Supplies and Consumer Choices
ANALYSIS: Irish Beef Market Under Supply Pressure
ANALYSIS: Japan’s May 2025 Beef Imports Recede from 12-Month High
ANALYSIS: US Pork Cold Storage Tightens Year-Over-Year Despite Seasonal Shifts