Topic “Featured News” — Exporter Magazine

Sony is sending its cassette tape Walkman into retirement in Japan as demand for a music player that was ground-breaking in its day dwindles to a tiny niche in the era of digital technology, according to GulfNews.com citing an Associated Press article. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that global air cargo traffic rose by 14.8% in September, down from 19% growth the previous month, translating into a month-to-month decline of 2.1% when adjusted for seasonal factors, according to the Shipping Gazette. A German company has patented its process for ‘nocturnal milk’ which it claims contains 100 times more melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate sleep, than normal milk, according to Dairyreporter.com. Milk production in New Zealand will rebound by 10% next year to a record high, feeding a recovery in exports – assuming the world’s top exporter gets a break from the poor weather which has for two years sent output lower, according to AgriMoney.com. The European Commission has proposed a temporary ban on animal cloning for food production in the European Union, at a meeting of the European Commission, Council and Parliament held in Strasbourg this week, according to FoodProductionDaily.com. Low levels of R&D, high input costs and uneven relations with retailers are amongst the reasons emerging economies are outpacing growth of the EU food and drink sector, according to AP-FoodTechnology.com. Telecommunications analysis company IDC forecasts Apple iPhones and Google Android-based phones will each account for 17% of total smartphone shipments into New Zealand by the end of the year, with Blackberry’s share seen sitting at 12%, according to Stuff.co.nz.