World Perspectives
feed-grains

El Niño Sparks Corn Demand

Corn production in Sub-Saharan Africa has been volatile for decades but when technology and investment should have been making it less so, it has instead gotten worse.  This year’s El Niño has helped make a bad situation worse. USAID’s Famine Early Warning System Network identified the problem many months ago when rainfall during December- February, the normally peak precipitation months, was underwhelming. The agency predicted “crisis level” food aid requirements in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar.  South Africa has had to import white corn for the first time since 2017, and Zambia’s corn crop was down by 50 percent and could require 1 MMT in imports. The situation could rev...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Low Volume But Solid Intentions

The CME and traders recovered from a data center problem that halted overnight trading but it was the holiday interrupted week that sent trading volumes sharply lower on Friday. The day started with another flash sale of soybeans to China, evidencing that Beijing is committed to its agreement w...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4775/bushel, up $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.385/bushel, down $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.3775/bushel, up $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $318.7/short ton, down $1.7 f...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry-bulk markets are firmer this week with the Capesize sector again leading the rally. Capesize rates saw support from stronger volumes from East Australia and the Pacific with Brazil and West Africa seeing demand for LH December and January positions. Panamax markets were firmer with growing...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Low Volume But Solid Intentions

The CME and traders recovered from a data center problem that halted overnight trading but it was the holiday interrupted week that sent trading volumes sharply lower on Friday. The day started with another flash sale of soybeans to China, evidencing that Beijing is committed to its agreement w...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4775/bushel, up $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.385/bushel, down $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.3775/bushel, up $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $318.7/short ton, down $1.7 f...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry-bulk markets are firmer this week with the Capesize sector again leading the rally. Capesize rates saw support from stronger volumes from East Australia and the Pacific with Brazil and West Africa seeing demand for LH December and January positions. Panamax markets were firmer with growing...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Broadly Bullish

The CBOT was higher heading into the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday with investors across the board seeming to find optimism amid a relatively quiet news day. For the ag markets, news that China continues to book U.S. soybeans – securing as many as 10 cargoes on Tuesday – is supportive,...

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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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