Author: Editorial Desk

Brazil’s trade surplus in 2025 became increasingly dependent on crude oil and petroleum products, with the surplus generated by these items reaching a record $29.6 billion, according to official trade indicators. This marked a rise from the previous high of $28.2 billion in 2024 and accounted for 43.3% of Brazil’s total trade surplus of $68.3 billion, up from 38% a year earlier. The data come from the Indicator of Foreign Trade compiled by the Brazilian Institute of Economics at Fundação Getulio Vargas, based on figures from the Secretariat of Foreign Trade. Lia Valls, a professor at the State University of…

Turkey has introduced tighter import procedures for selected animal-derived food products as part of efforts to align its regulatory framework with European Union standards on food safety, plant health, and animal welfare, according to Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade. Arada Fuangtong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, said the Republic of Turkey, through its Directorate General of Food and Control under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has increased import procedures for food products of animal origin or derived from certain animals. The measures apply to dairy products, seafood, fish, gelatin, and collagen intended for human consumption. The revised…

India has ‘significant potential’ to increase agricultural imports from the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, days after Washington announced a trade deal aimed at expanding market access for American farm goods. In response to a questionnaire from The Indian Express addressed to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Leslie Rollins, a USDA spokesperson said that high tariffs, what it described as unjustified non-tariff measures, and other restrictions had constrained U.S. agricultural exports to India. The spokesperson added that reducing these barriers, along with reforms to what it termed India’s “overly generous” subsidy programs, could help level the playing field…

Tajikistan remains among the world’s more import-dependent economies, with imports of goods and services accounting for about 48.4% of gross domestic product in 2023, according to World Bank data. The figure places the Central Asian nation well above global averages, highlighting its reliance on external supplies for economic stability and growth. Data published through global trade visualizations indicate that nearly half of Tajikistan’s economy is linked to imported goods and services. While the structure reflects global patterns among landlocked nations with limited industrial capacity, it also exposes the economy to external price fluctuations, supply disruptions, and geopolitical trade tensions. Tajikistan’s…

Shares of Wilmar International slipped 0.3% to S$3.45 during afternoon trading in Singapore on Thursday, easing after a 2.7% gain in the previous session. Trading volume reached about 4.7 million shares, with the stock remaining near recent highs as investors weighed commodity price trends and global trade developments. Market participants are closely monitoring the company’s exposure to volatile edible oil prices and policy changes that can rapidly reshape international trade flows. Investors are also awaiting Wilmar’s full-year 2025 financial results, scheduled for release after market close on February 26, with attention expected to focus on demand trends and operating margins,…

Shippers are redesigning logistics strategies to cope with growing complexity across global freight markets, industry leaders said during discussions at the F3: Future of Freight Festival, where executives highlighted shifting trade flows, labor shortages, and changing customer demands as major forces reshaping logistics operations. During a fireside discussion, Christopher Clemmensen, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Echo Global Logistics, and Brad Guinane, Chief Revenue Officer at SONAR, outlined how companies are adapting to evolving freight challenges. Clemmensen noted that Echo Global Logistics has grown from a $7 million startup into a business generating more than $4 billion in revenue over…

South Africa has formally joined the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) by officially entering one of Africa’s largest economies into the continent’s leading multilateral financial institution and reinforcing efforts to strengthen Africa’s financial and trade sovereignty. The accession follows approval by the South African Parliament in 2025 and makes South Africa the 54th state to join Afreximbank. Officials described the move as a strategic milestone as African economies seek to expand intra-continental trade and investment amid a global financial environment increasingly shaped by protectionism and shifting trade blocs. To operationalize the partnership, Afreximbank said it will roll out significant financial interventions…

The U.S. government’s decision to cut import duties on Indian textile products to 18% from an earlier effective rate of 50% is expected to give a strong boost to India’s textile exports, particularly as competing suppliers in neighboring countries continue to face higher tariffs. Industry bodies said the lower tariff will improve the price competitiveness of Indian textiles in the U.S. market, raising the prospect of a sharp increase in exports in the coming months. According to a press release, the move is expected to significantly benefit exporters in Tiruppur, Karur, and Erode, along with open-end mills and spinning mills…

The Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling has formally submitted comments to the European Commission expressing concern over potential trade measures that could restrict exports of aluminum scrap outside the European Union. In its submission, BIR said it supports the EU’s circular economy and decarbonization objectives but warned that proposed export restrictions or trade barriers are unnecessary and could trigger serious unintended consequences across the aluminum value chain. The organization argued that limiting scrap exports would not align with market realities and risks undermining the economics of recycling. The comments were published on the European Commission’s website as part of its…

Kenya and Brazil have opened a new round of discussions aimed at deepening trade and investment cooperation, as both countries seek to reduce exposure to volatility in traditional export markets shaped by rising global tariffs. The talks were formalized through the Kenya–Brazil Economic Cooperation Forum held in Nairobi, according to information released by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The forum brought together senior government officials, investment promotion agencies, and private sector representatives from both countries. The timing of the meeting was closely linked to broader shifts in global trade. With the United States expanding tariffs…