Export Sales and Shipments for August 9-15, 2024. Wheat: Net sales of 492,700 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025 were up 45 percent from the previous week and 63 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 470,200 MT were down 6 percent from the previous week, but up 9 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily to Indonesia (131,900 MT), Mexico (87,800 MT), Japan (86,900 MT), the Philippines (66,000 MT), and Chile (53,400 MT). Corn: Net sales of 119,100 MT for 2023/2024--a marketing-year low--were down 1 percent from the previous week and 57 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 1,155,900 MT were up 12 percent from the previous week and 1 percent from the prior 4-week...
Beef packer margins deteriorated sharply to -$167/head last week, down $89 from the prior week as fed cattle prices rebounded while the Choice cutout continued to weaken. The cutout slipped to $363/cwt, while fed cattle prices climbed to $235/cwt, reversing much of the recent improvement in pac...
What You Need to Know Today: Tensions in the Middle East escalated over the weekend with Iran demanding the U.S. make multiple concessions that are likely non-starters before traffic can flow through the Strait of Hormuz again. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a mutual defense agreeme...
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.