U.S. biofuel makers are disappointed that U.S. EPA is not more aggressively pushing fuel blending, but their plight is consistent with the pandemic related faltering in global biofuel production. The International Energy Agency (EIA) says that 10 percent annual increases are needed in global biofuel production to meet the Sustainable Development Scenario. Instead, global production fell by 11.6 percent in 2020 due to reduced transport fuel use due to COVID. Production and utilization may increase in 2021 but it is unlikely to hit a full rebound. Production increases before the pandemic were short of EIA’s projections, rising 7 percent in 2018 and 6 percent in 2019. If policymakers achieve their goal of greatly expanding the ele...
What You Need to Know Today: Wheat prices surged after Ukrainian strikes on Russian vessels and infrastructure disrupted grain shipments, halting traffic through the Sea of Azov, Kerch Strait, and Black Sea. The July WASDE report offered a modestly supportive outlook for corn, wheat, and soybe...
The trade deficit in goods and services came in at $77.6 billion in May, slightly smaller than the consensus estimate of $78.4 billion. After a few months of relative stability, the trade deficit widened in May. The increase in the deficit for the month was due to both a rise in imports, which...
Every June combines begin their annual sweep across the winter wheat fields of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. At the same time, USDA releases its Acreage and Crop Progress reports, providing the first comprehensive look at the size and condition of the crop. Most years the reports simply confirm...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.