Regional News On 1 December, Bulgaria lifted its import ban on four agricultural products (wheat, corn sunflower seed, and rapeseed) from Ukraine. Last week, Russia announced an export quota for grains of 24 MMT for 15 February through 30 June 2024, which would imply monthly exports of about 5.5 MMT. The ban does not apply to EEU member states. Kazakhstan’s government is considering a proposal to place an export tax on wheat that would be a minimum of 20 percent or €60/MT. The proposal includes an effort to ban hard wheat exports for a certain period. Additional details are lacking and there is no timeline for the export tax or the export ban. Milling Wheat After selling off to 2- and 3-year low...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Dry bulk markets were volatile but ultimately steady this week with notable differences in rate developments across vessel classes. The Capesize sector, which led the recent rally in freight rates with its dramatic surge, pulled back slightly amid more cautious chartering activity, partic...
Key Market Insights Macro markets delivered a full whipsaw today. Early in the session, crude oil had rallied back above $100/barrel as traders priced renewed concern over the U.S.-Iran standoff and potential supply risk through the Strait of Hormuz. That strength helped pull grains off their o...
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.