1.   

EU now largest import source of China

Disaster-hit Japan saw its exports fall and was overtaken by the European Union (EU) as China's largest source of imports during the first four months of the year, Yao Jian, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said Tuesday. China's imports from Japan totaled $15.99 billion in April, the first month following the earthquake and tsunami there in March

2.   

Bumper rabi onion crop and low exports pull down prices

A bumper rabi onion harvest and lower volume of exports because of high minimum export price (MEP) have been pulling down the retail prices of the vegetable over the last few weeks. But it could be a different picture entirely in the next season. With the wholesale price ranging between R550 and R600 per quintal at Nashik, the hub of the country's onion trade, traders feel that farmers are not recovering their cost of production.

3.   

India weighs priorities on food exports

For governments across asia that are trying to combat food-led inflation, shipments from India, one of the world’s largest producers of wheat, sugar and rice, would come as a relief but they will wait until India figures out how much to put aside for the food security bill. “Suppliers to the government’s welfare schemes are more important than allowing exports for private trade.

4.   

India's maize exports in 2010-11 to touch 2.4 mn tn

India's maize export is expected to rise by 33% to 2.4 million tonne in 2010-11 marketing year ending October, mainly on the back of record domestic production.India had exported 1.8 million tonne (MT) of maize in the 2009-10 marketing year (November-October), according to a US Grains Council (USGC) report. "India's maize exports are expected to touch 2.4 million tonne in the 2010-11 as India is expecting a bumper output of maize in this season," India-based representative of the USGC, Amit Sachdev, said.