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Ramadan to Impact Production Schedules Across Key Manufacturing Regions  Ramadan will be observed from February 17 through March 19 this year. During this time, many factories in observant countries will continue operating, but adjusted working hours and modified schedules may result in slower production timelines.  The Ramadan holiday is widely observed across several key manufacturing regions, including Indonesia, Thailand, Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey, so…

Tariffs Tariffs have surged into the spotlight, appearing in headlines far more frequently than in years past. Until recently, tariff and duty rate updates were typically minor, arising only for small adjustments.  Today, however, the landscape has shifted, and tariff changes are becoming far more frequent, impactful, and disruptive. As importers, we are responsible for…

Tariff Update: What You Need to Know Starting August 7, new tariff rules will take effect for all departing goods. For items sourced from the EU, any rate below 15% will automatically increase to 15%, while rates already at 15% or higher will remain unchanged. Annex 1 outlines the country-specific details, with nations like Thailand,…

As we move through 2025, the pineapple market is projected to remain firm with supply constraints impacting availability through the first half of the year. Here’s what you need to know about current market conditions.   INDONESIA: Total raw material volume for 2025 is expected to align with 2024 at approximately 590K MTs. The harvest is…

Ocean Freight Rates  Uncertainty continues to cloud the outlook for summer peak season importing, particularly in the ocean freight sector. In April, many U.S. importers halted shipments from China due to the steep tariffs, prompting carriers to reduce available capacity. However, with the recent temporary pause on those tariffs, importers have resumed their shipments, driving…

Coconut Worldwide supply of coconut remains tight due to the heavy rains and flooding caused by La Niña. These severe weather conditions have caused shortages of raw materials in key producing countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. As global demand continues to increase, supply continues to tighten. Pineapple  This year, the Indonesian total raw…

I want to make you aware of how the Tariff increases announced on April 2, 2025 will affect us, and everyone downstream in our supply chain. Prices are increasing commensurate with these new increases in Tariffs. The tariff increases are on the value in the country of origin, and added to all other costs involved…

State of Worldwide Supply Chain   Ocean freight rates continue to fluctuate, but have decreased since peak market rates during the summer.  Factories in China will be closing for several weeks for Chinese New Year, which is on January 29, 2025 (Year of the Snake), so vessel space will remain tight. Potential new tariffs and the…

Maraschino Cherry Crop Winds Down  The Rainier, Imperial Wichita, and Prunus Avium varieties of cherries used to make Maraschino cherries have been harvested in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and Europe. Crop yields are comparable to last year, so supply will remain secure and pricing will be stable.    Farro Crop Delayed Due…

The Saffron Market continues to be very strong due to lack of global inventory.  Severe droughts substantially hampered the 2023 Saffron harvest. The average annual harvest is estimated at 500,000-600,000 lbs, while this year resulted in less than half the volume (approximately 250,000 lbs). The effects of the short harvest have been punishing on the…