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

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, down $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.295/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.9125/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $301.2/short ton, down $0.1...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: China Buys While Timeline Changes; Wheat Drops on Export Outlook

Once again, the headlines for CBOT trade revolved around news from China, this time in support of both bulls and bears. Bulls benefited from the news of “flash” export sales of 17 Mbu to China and unknown destinations, which was an obvious encouragement to the market. One of the rea...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 1–5 December 2025 Russia’s grain markets remained largely bearish during the first week of December, although some regions showed bullish sentiment. Trends varied between the European and Asian parts of the country. In Siberia, wheat prices declined across all...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, down $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.295/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.9125/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $301.2/short ton, down $0.1...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: China Buys While Timeline Changes; Wheat Drops on Export Outlook

Once again, the headlines for CBOT trade revolved around news from China, this time in support of both bulls and bears. Bulls benefited from the news of “flash” export sales of 17 Mbu to China and unknown destinations, which was an obvious encouragement to the market. One of the rea...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 1–5 December 2025 Russia’s grain markets remained largely bearish during the first week of December, although some regions showed bullish sentiment. Trends varied between the European and Asian parts of the country. In Siberia, wheat prices declined across all...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 10 December)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

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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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