Global sugar production
Experts estimate for global sugar production is up by 1.3 million tons since their previous update. They now think that global sugar production will hit 186.7 million tons in 2025/26. The increase in production is mainly driven by improved output in China, Indonesia and the EU. They now expect China’s sugar production to reach 12 million tons, up from 11.7 million tons, as favourable weather in Guangxi and Yunnan has improved yields. However, mills are currently selling cane at a loss. While the government-set cane price continues to support farmer returns, weaker mill profitability could reduce future support for farmers and may lower next year’s crop back to around 11.7 million tons. Similar pressures are emerging in Thailand, where they expect production to ease next year as farmers, particularly in the Northeast, shift away from cane as cassava returns become more competitive. Tighter margins are also limiting farmers’ ability to apply crop inputs on time, which could weigh negatively on yields.
Meeting assesses status of wheat crop: Rabi 2025–26
Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah, presided over a high-level meeting of the Agriculture Department to comprehensively assess the status of the ongoing wheat crop for Rabi 2025–26 and review production targets and farmer support measures aimed at ensuring food security across the province.
Senior officials of the agriculture department briefed the Chief Secretary on wheat cultivation progress, expected yield, and government interventions designed to strengthen agricultural output.
Chief Secretary Sindh stated that the Provincial Government ensured timely provision of DAP and urea fertilizers to 3,26,440 small wheat-growing farmers to enhance productivity and secure better per-acre yields.
He emphasized that as a result of these focused and farmer-friendly interventions, wheat cultivation has expanded significantly across Sindh.
The wheat sown area has increased from 3,086,337 acres in 2024–25 to 3,668,182 acres in 2025–26, reflecting renewed confidence of growers in government support policies.
Sindh leads with 62pc of Pakistan’s gas and oil production
Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) emerged as the leading contributors to Pakistan’s gas and oil production in January 2026, according to the monthly exploration report compiled by Topline Securities.
Sindh dominated gas production with a 62 percent share, while KP accounted for 41 percent of the country’s crude oil output, outpacing other provinces.
The report indicated that KP’s crude oil production stood at 41 percent of national output, closely followed by Sindh, which contributed 40 percent. Meanwhile, Punjab produced 18 percent of the country’s oil, with Balochistan’s share being just 1 percent.
In terms of gas production, Sindh remained the leader with a significant 62 percent contribution to national output. Balochistan followed with 21 percent, while KP contributed 14 percent. Punjab’s share in national gas production was minimal, standing at just 3 percent.
Dairy production larger than export demand
An economist says record U.S. dairy exports are not enough to boost dairy prices because of higher production.
Danny Munch with American Farm Bureau Federation tells Brownfield that 2025 milk production grew more than demand. “The U.S. all milk price averaged $19.70 per hundredweight in November, and that was down four dollars since early January of last year so milk prices are still dropping substantially.”
USDA estimates the U.S. has about 200-thousand more dairy cows, as farms are keeping cows longer and breeding them for beef calves.
Munch says lower milk prices have made the U.S. more competitive on the global market, with Cheddar cheese prices down 28 percent and butter prices down 47 percent.
Venezuela: coal production to diversify economy under sanctions
Venezuela’s economic landscape has undergone significant transformation as sanctions continue to reshape traditional revenue streams, forcing the nation to explore alternative commodity markets. In this challenging environment, Venezuela revives coal production as a strategic pivot away from petroleum-dependent exports, marking a crucial shift in the country’s resource diversification strategy. This development reflects broader patterns observed in mining industry trends across sanction-affected economies.
China produces its first domestic uranium. 30 mn tons could follow
In July 2025, China extracted its first barrel of uranium from the Ordos Desert, exactly one year after construction began on what’s now known as the National Uranium No. 1 project. The milestone marks a turning point: China, long dependent on uranium imports, is moving toward self-sufficiency in nuclear fuel.
The Ordos Basin holds an estimated 30 million tons of uranium, announced in January 2025 by the China Geological Survey. A second major deposit was discovered in July 2025 in the Tarim Basin at 1,820 meters depth, the deepest sandstone-type uranium deposit ever recorded in China.
Tea industry calls for structural reforms
India’s tea industry, one of the country’s oldest agro-based sectors, remains a vital pillar of rural employment, export earnings and regional economic stability. India is the world’s second-largest tea producer, generating over 1.2–1.3 billion kg annually, and contributes about 10 percent of global tea exports . Tea cultivation is concentrated in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala , which together account for nearly 97 percent of total output. The sector directly employs more than one million workers and supports millions more through small growers, processing units, logistics networks and trade. Domestic consumption absorbs nearly 80 percent of production , making India one of the world’s largest tea-consuming nations, while key export markets include Russia, Iran, the UAE, Iraq, the UK and the United States.