Top 10 Headlines on Expana in 2025—and What Could Shape the Next Year in Food and Ag

2025 was a big year for news in the food and agriculture industry. Headlines ranging from livestock diseases and sweeping policy changes to rising geopolitical tensions, shifting tariffs, weather events, and evolving consumer trends influenced commercial strategies, supply chains, and global market dynamics... 

Lamb Weston Shutters One Plant, Defers to New Production in Argentina; North American Sales Flat

As of January 8, Lamb Weston will close one potato processing facility in Munro to consolidate into its newest facility in Mar del Plata, Argentina, according to a press release from the group that supplies some of the world's largest fast-food chains. While the company realizes most of its profits in North America, officials say other markets like Argentina are growing quickly.

“These actions are part of our broader strategy to improve profitability and enhance operational efficiency across our global manufacturing network..."

Expana Announces CEO Transition as Julie Harris Appointed Chief Executive Officer

Expana, the world’s leading agrifood-focused Price Reporting Agency and market intelligence provider, today announced that Julie Harris has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective January 26, 2026. She will succeed Spencer Wicks, who has decided to retire after more than seven years of leadership.

Julie joins Expana with an extensive track record in the global data and analytics sector. Most recently CEO of IWSR, the beverage-alcohol data and insight provider, she led the company through major product expansion, platform modernization

ANALYSIS: Disease Outbreaks Deepen Crisis in Polish Poultry Sector in 2025

In Poland, infectious disease outbreaks emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing the poultry industry in 2025, as millions of birds were culled following widespread cases of avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Against a backdrop of potential export restrictions, record-high poultry prices, and intensifying regulatory pressures, the past year has ranked among the most difficult periods for the Polish poultry sector in recent years.

As of December 29, 2025, Polish veterinary authorities had confirmed 116 outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), affecting...

ANALYSIS: EU Shell Egg Market Eases Amid Holiday Slowdown and AI Risk

As 2025 comes to a close, feedback from market participants points to a gradually loosening EU shell egg market, with holiday-related slowdown and additional imports contributing to a more comfortable supply picture. Reduced trading activity around Christmas and New Year has translated into slower order placement, allowing stocks to build across several member states despite underlying structural tightness.

Market participants report that offers of shell eggs from Ukraine have increased, with quotations generally undercutting EU-origin product and adding to the sense...

Expana to Observe New Year Holiday on January 1, 2026

Expana will be observing the New Year holiday on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

As previously announced, Market Insights and Market Updates were suspended beginning December 22 through January 2 with normal publishing to resume Monday January 5, 2026.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period here. 

Additionally, the Editorial Department will not be publishing news on Thursday, January 1 and will resume normal publishing on Friday, January 2, 2026. 

Happy New Year to all from everyone at Expana.

ANALYSIS: Tighter Cattle Supplies and Rising Costs Set to Shape Irish Beef Prices in 2026

The Expana price for cattle steer in Ireland stood at €7.27/kg in the week ending December 10, 2025, representing a 2.9% decline month-over-month (MOM), while remaining sharply higher on an annual basis, up 31.2% year-over-year (YOY). Despite the recent monthly easing, prices continue to reflect tight supply conditions and strong underlying market fundamentals. 

Ireland exports approximately 90% of its beef production, meaning global market conditions play a decisive role in shaping domestic cattle prices. While short-term fluctuations in local supply can influence prices temporarily, export market trends remain...

China Imposes Additional 55% Tariffs on Imported Beef

China today (December 31) imposed additional 55% tariffs on beef imports from countries ⁠including Brazil, Australia and the US when shipments exceed certain quotas, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

The tariffs will apply to imported beef, effective January 1, 2026, according to the ministry.

The measures take effect ahead of the investigation’s revised January 26 deadline, marking a sharp shift in the pace of the case, with many of the most affected suppliers caught during the year-end Christmas and New Year closures.

A Chinese importer told Expana today

Crayola Launches Global McDonald's Happy Meal® Experience That's Out-of-This-World

Crayola has teamed up with McDonald's for the first time on a global scale with a new Happy Meal experience to propel kids' imagination into orbit and transform the universe into a canvas for creativity.

The Happy Meal features an exclusive lineup of co-branded, space-themed activity kits and toys designed to encourage hands-on creative moments that the whole family can share. The limited-edition Planet McDonald's Happy Meal is rolling out at participating McDonald's...

Op-Ed by Ambassador Jamieson Greer: The Year of the Tariff

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer published an op-ed in The Financial Times explaining how President Trump’s trade program is accelerating America’s re-industrialization, incentivizing domestic production with improved market access for US exports.

The full text of the op-ed is below:

The year 2025 will be remembered as the year of the tariff, regardless of one’s economic ideology. International trade is neither good nor bad — it just is. The real question is whether trade patterns serve the national interest...

China to Impose Beef Safeguards: Details Due December 30

On December 30, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is expected to announce the final outcome of its global safeguards investigation into beef imports, with a likely implementation date of January 1, 2026, the Meat Industry Association (MIA) said in a circular. MIA, the industry association from New Zealand, has been monitoring the situation and sent out a press release to update market participants.

The measure would create country-specific tariff-rate quotas for major exporters to China allocated on a three-year reference period...

ANALYSIS: EU Postpones Mercosur Trade Deal Amid Farmer Protests in Brussels

The European Union has postponed the ratification of its long-negotiated free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc until January 2026, amid growing political resistance and large-scale protests by European farmers in Brussels. The decision was taken December 18, 2025, at the conclusion of the European Council meeting, one of the most consequential summits of the year.

Negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement, which involves Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, began in 2000 and have stretched over two decades. Once ratified...

Expana Publication Schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period

Expana will be observing several holidays which will impact the publication of some Expana Benchmark Prices. Daily assessments falling on these dates will not be published, while weekly assessments falling on these dates will be assessed on the last working day before these dates.

Expana's Market Insights and Market Updates will be suspended from Monday, December 22, 2024, to Friday, January 2, 2025, inclusive. Normal publishing schedules will resume on Monday, January 5, 2025.

See the publication schedule for the 2025 Holiday Period...

ANALYSIS: Widespread HPAI Activity in Europe Driven by Wild Bird Transmission

Between September 6 and November 28, 2025, a total of 442 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were confirmed in domestic poultry, alongside 2,454 detections in wild birds across 29 European countries, according to the latest quarterly assessment published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL). The scale and geographic spread of these outbreaks underscore the continued intensity of HPAI circulation across Europe during the...

Global Grain Production to Ease in 2026/27, Says Expana

Global grain markets are preparing for a production decline in the 2026/27 marketing year, despite forecasts showing output will remain at historically high levels, according to new market analysis by Expana's crop analysis team. 

World wheat production in 2026/27 is forecast to be "smaller, mainly because yields are set to return closer to average in the main producer countries and because growing areas for wheat are expected to contract slightly in the US, China, and Argentina," Expana's analysts said

ANALYSIS: Japan Reopens Market for German Agricultural Exports Following FMD Clearance

On November 12, 2025, Japan lifted its temporary ban on German beef exports, marking a significant win for Germany's food industry after the country regained its foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free status. The market reopening provides German beef exporters renewed access to Japan's lucrative market, particularly for premium beef offal products that command strong demand. German dairy producers also benefit from the restored access, with exports of untreated dairy products like raw milk cheese now authorized again...

Foodservice Finds Momentum This Holiday Season Amid Shifting Consumer Spending

As the holidays approach and the year winds down, the foodservice industry competes with retail on how consumers stretch their dollars during "the most wonderful time of the year."

CNBC recently reported that, based on restaurant purchasing data, consumers continue to dine out, but many are opting for appetizer items instead of entrée menu options.

Despite the challenges of disease, supply issues, and rising costs, the American foodservice industry remains resilient and continues to find ways to tap into consumer spending this December, even as some consumers scale back.

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...