* A World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement panel has ruled that China’s tariff-rate quotas on US wheat, corn, and rice violated organisation rules.

According to a press release from the USDA, China’s tariff-rate quotas administration was “not transparent, predictable, or fair” and prevented US farmers from gaining level access to Chinese markets.

“The Administration will continue to press China to promptly come into compliance with its WTO obligations,” said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

* According to Reuters, Japan’s use of corn in animal feed shot up to 48.8% in February 2019.

Data from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries showed that corn usage in feed for February 2018 was 47.8%.

* South Africa has reported another outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).

According to an alert by the OIE, the disease was discovered outside the country’s ASF control zone in Mpumalanga, killing 30 pigs.

This is the second outbreak of ASF in South Africa to happen outside the country’s control zone this year. The first was reported earlier this month on a farm in the North West province.

The OIE also reported an outbreak of ASF in Ukraine. According to an alert sent by the organisation, the disease was discovered in a wild boar near Kirovograd.

* The USDA expects Indonesia’s sugar consumption for the 2018-19 marketing year to increase to 6.6m tonnes and then again in the 2019-20 marketing year to 6.8m tonnes.

The agency estimates that the country’s raw sugar imports will rise to 4.7m tonnes for 2018-19.

Sugarcane production is forecast to only increase slightly due to a shortage of useable land.

* The Barry Callebaut Group is planning to build a chocolate factory in Novi Sad, Serbia. The factory will serve as a hub for the Southeast Europe chocolate market.

The new facility is expected to be operational by 2021 and to have an initial annually capacity of over 50,000 tonnes, the company said.

Total investment over five years is projected to be around EUR 50 million (CHF 56.7 million).