World Perspectives

Designed Obsolescence; Infrastructure, Environment; Miscellany

Designed Obsolescence According to reports, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called for a third-party audit of the organization’s staff to assess how well they are functioning. To most executives, that would be a laudable initiative from new management, but this is the WTO. Instead, some trade envoys are complaining that WTO Secretariat staff are not supposed to be proactive in their work and are warning that the budget committee may disallow the expenditure for such a review. These trade policy experts prefer the status quo in Geneva but lack the courage of their convictions since they asked not to be quoted directly.  Infrastructure, Environment A plurality of respondents to WPI’s last survey believe that P...

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May 26 Corn closed at $4.49/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.98/bushel, up $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.5825/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $311.8/short ton, down $4.8 fr...

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Mexico’s 2025/26 sugar production is estimated to be 5.024 million MT, reflecting about a 6 percent increase from 4.7 million MT after the past two years of weather-affected output, including both persistent drought and ill-timed rains. Nonetheless, production remains near the low end com...

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May 26 Corn closed at $4.49/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.98/bushel, up $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.5825/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $311.8/short ton, down $4.8 fr...

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Key Market Developments Macro/Geopolitics:  Markets are staring down a deadline tonight as President Donald Trump pushes Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8:00 PM Eastern. So far, Iran has rejected the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal — reportedly delivered through Pakistan &mdash...

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Mexico’s 2025/26 sugar production is estimated to be 5.024 million MT, reflecting about a 6 percent increase from 4.7 million MT after the past two years of weather-affected output, including both persistent drought and ill-timed rains. Nonetheless, production remains near the low end com...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins reversed sharply to -$17/head from $120/head the prior week, as rising fed cattle prices more than offset a modest decline in the Choice cutout. Fed cattle prices increased $12.92/cwt from the prior week while the cutout slipped $3.24/cwt, compressing gross margins and pushi...

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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.

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