World Perspectives

Market Commentary: When Bottlenecks Move Markets

Macro: Trade Flows Set the Tone Persian Gulf crude flows appear to be improving, with anecdotal estimates suggesting as much as 7–8 million barrels per day may now be leaving the region — nearly double the mid-July pace. That helps explain why crude has not maintained the full geopo...

Today’s Top insights
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.335/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $7.6075/bushel, up $0.125 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.68/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $340.9/short ton, up $1.6 from ye...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds biofuel

Ethanol Margins Set to Decline; Biodiesel Margins Set to Explode

Key Takeaways:  Ethanol margins continue to retreat from recent highs as rising costs – particularly corn and natural gas – offset gains in ethanol and DDGS values. WPI’s models expect ethanol margins to broadly follow their seasonal pattern, declining into the new year,...

livestock

Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan

As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.335/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $7.6075/bushel, up $0.125 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.68/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $340.9/short ton, up $1.6 from ye...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds biofuel

Ethanol Margins Set to Decline; Biodiesel Margins Set to Explode

Key Takeaways:  Ethanol margins continue to retreat from recent highs as rising costs – particularly corn and natural gas – offset gains in ethanol and DDGS values. WPI’s models expect ethanol margins to broadly follow their seasonal pattern, declining into the new year,...

livestock

Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan

As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...

livestock

Why U.S. Lamb Prices Are Import-Anchored and Why Carcass Divergence Matters

Key Takeaways: Imports supply 70–75 percent of U.S. lamb disappearance, with Australia and New Zealand accounting for nearly all imported volume. The deficit is structural, not cyclical: domestic production cannot scale quickly enough to displace imports or reset the market’s refer...

Transportation Perspectives - 27 August

Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...

livestock

Why U.S. Lamb Prices Are Import-Anchored and Why Carcass Divergence Matters

Key Takeaways: Imports supply 70–75 percent of U.S. lamb disappearance, with Australia and New Zealand accounting for nearly all imported volume. The deficit is structural, not cyclical: domestic production cannot scale quickly enough to displace imports or reset the market’s refer...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.365/bushel, up $0.13 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $7.4825/bushel, up $0.45 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.66/bushel, up $0.2825 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $339.3/short ton, up $10.1 from ye...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Export, Yield, and Attack Headlines Drive Grains to New Highs

What You Need to Know Today: The day belonged to the bulls as fund buying and technical momentum boosted corn, soybeans, and wheat to new rally or contract highs. Wheat futures exploded Wednesday around the world after Russia indicated it will increase its attacks on Ukrainian export infrastru...

feed-grains livestock farm-inputs

Cow-Calf Profit Outlook Falls Amid Shifting Economics

Key Takeaways:  Expected returns to production for U.S. cow-calf producers have shifted lower from prior forecasts as cattle values fall and feed costs rise. Producer revenues are forecast 4–5 percent below our July outlook and will be 3 percent below 2025 levels. Costs are quickly...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 17–21 August 2026 The Russian grain market continued to decline during the third week of August as the Black Sea blockade severely disrupted export logistics. The resulting loss of export capacity is pressuring domestic prices and increasing storage concerns as the...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 26 August)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.235/bushel, up $0.08 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $7.0325/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.3775/bushel, up $0.135 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $329.2/short ton, up $0.6 from...

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