KOREA, REPUBLIC OF, June 17, 2004 -- Korean leaf tobacco area and production are forecast to contract again in 2004. Elimination of domestic leaf tobacco purchasing requirements in 2001 and privatization of KT&G, the former state-owned tobacco processing firm, in December 2002 paved way for Korean tobacco processors to shift from domestic to imported tobacco.

POLAND, June 17, 2004 -- Imports of U.S. wine rose 16 percent between 2002 and 2003. Lower EU external tariffs applied to U.S. products upon Poland's May 1, 2004 EU accession should further stimulate imports in 2004. Projections indicate that wine consumption in Poland will increase 10-15 percent within the next few years; however competition in the wine industry is growing, with an estimate of more than 10,000 different brands on the market. The Wine Institute of California conducted its third edition of the California Dreaming Festival in Warsaw in June 2004.

SOUTH AFRICA, REPUBLIC OF, June 17, 2004 -- The latest figures indicate that South Africa's 2004 wine grape production is expected to reach about 1.314 million MT, up from the previous industry estimates of 1.250 million MT. The 2004 wine production, that includes juice and concentrate for non-alcoholic purposes, rebate and distilling wine, is expected to reach about 10.185 million HL, at an annual recovery rate of 775 litres per ton of grapes.