The start of 2026 has been the exact opposite of what dry bulk markets and traders expected at the end of 2025. Typically, the Lunar New Year and post-holiday demand lulls mean that Q1 freight rates are often the weakest of the year. This year, however, rates rallied sharply on unexpected deman...
Regional News On 20 February, Germany confirmed its first case of Newcastle disease in 18 years, after a commercial turkey flock in Neißemünde was found to be infected. Separately, Poland had two new flocks confirmed as being infected with the disease, as the country continues...
Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Tunisia’s 2026 winter crop planting started a little late due to a lack of rainfall, but this improved in January as rainfall caught up. Winter wheat and barley crops are expected to be good for the harvest later in 2026. 20...
Tariff Confusion Fun Reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that general use of tariffs is not within the President’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have been wildly diverse. Mass media headlines initially celebrated the “smack do...
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.