World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Common Thread: Back to Basics

During the past several years we have occasionally discussed the grouping together of different commodities such as crude oil, corn, copper, softs, etc. into a single trading instrument, or to use a popular term, an "asset class."  This has been a relatively new concept that really began in the 1990s (we consider that relatively new), and expanded greatly during the last decade.  The concept was promoted by those trying to sell investors on participation in index funds.  But it really gained credence when prominent financial institutions and investment entities such as hedge funds, pension funds, foundations and university endowments began to add commodities to their portfolios to diversify the scope of their investments.&n...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Energies Collapse on Ceasefire News but Grains Reclaim Early Losses

Once again, Trump, Iran, and the Middle East were the hub around which the CBOT trade revolved on Wednesday. Late Tuesday, the U.S. agreed to a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, just days after President Trump threatened to escalate attacks against the Middle Eastern country. In the annou...

Policy Deference; Reasserting Article I; Two-Tailed Dog; EU Imports; WTO Skepticism

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

European Market Analysis

Regional News  Egypt is increasingly finding itself caught between Russia and Ukraine, in a battle for supplying its domestic wheat markets. Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, is facing political pressure and wooing from both Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Ze...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Energies Collapse on Ceasefire News but Grains Reclaim Early Losses

Once again, Trump, Iran, and the Middle East were the hub around which the CBOT trade revolved on Wednesday. Late Tuesday, the U.S. agreed to a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, just days after President Trump threatened to escalate attacks against the Middle Eastern country. In the annou...

Policy Deference; Reasserting Article I; Two-Tailed Dog; EU Imports; WTO Skepticism

Policy Deference The bilateral trade balance is a narrow way to look at the relative relationship between two countries. The government of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is seeking to ignore its own regulations that guide the application of the General Law on Adequate and Sustainable...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

European Market Analysis

Regional News  Egypt is increasingly finding itself caught between Russia and Ukraine, in a battle for supplying its domestic wheat markets. Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer, is facing political pressure and wooing from both Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Ze...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 30 March - 3 April 2026 Market overview The Russian grains market remained broadly stable during the week, with a slightly firmer undertone. Export values were mostly steady, while the domestic market moved modestly higher. Broader geopolitical tensions had only a limited...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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