Russian Grain Markets: 22-26 January 2018 There were no significant changes in domestic market trends. Prices for wheat (all grades) and feed barley continued to increase and for the same reasons as previously: high export demand and gradual depletion of stocks. The export market showed a similar growth pattern as milling wheat prices rose +$2/MT to $196/MT FOB Black Sea and increased marginally to $185-189/MT CPT-port Black Sea due to strengthening of the ruble. Feed barley export prices also climbed $3/MT to $195/MT FOB Black Sea, while the average CPT-port Black Sea price rose to $191/MT. Corn prices grew $3/MT to $172/MT FOB Black Sea. GEOGRAPHICALLY 3rd grade soft milling wheat prices increased in Central and Black Soil (+$0.80-$1.0...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Dry bulk markets were volatile but ultimately steady this week with notable differences in rate developments across vessel classes. The Capesize sector, which led the recent rally in freight rates with its dramatic surge, pulled back slightly amid more cautious chartering activity, partic...
Key Market Insights Macro markets delivered a full whipsaw today. Early in the session, crude oil had rallied back above $100/barrel as traders priced renewed concern over the U.S.-Iran standoff and potential supply risk through the Strait of Hormuz. That strength helped pull grains off their o...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.