The closure of the Mexican border to feeder cattle imports due to New World Screwworm (NWS) has led to a 17 percent increase in beef prices in Mexico and a 12 percent increase in prices in the U.S. Cattle shipments to the U.S. have dropped more than 70 percent from January to July of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Prices of fed cattle in the U.S. rose 31 percent in July compared to the same month last year, while in Mexico the increase was 35 percent over the same period. Cattle inventories in both countries are expected to take between 18 to 24 months to recover, so prices are likely to remain firm. All this will depend on the evolution of the sanitary campaigns against the screwworm and the opening of the U.S. border, and...
What You Need to Know Today: The hot, dry weather forecast continues to drive strength in grain futures with corn and soybeans hitting another day of strong gains. Monday’s Crop Progress and Conditions data were in line with market expectations and showed relatively few concerns for the...
Yesterday we wrote about the Q1 GDP numbers and the June employment reports in an article entitled Real GDP for Q1 Relying on AI Buildout, Held Back by Consumer Spending. That article mentioned that consumer spending had become a drag on GDP. Nonetheless, real GDP in Q1 was revised upward to 2...
Key Takeaways: The Middle East and North Africa's arid climate and limited water resources have created a structural dependence on imported wheat. Government wheat tenders in major importing countries serve as important benchmarks for global trade, providing insight into exporter competitivene...
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.