“Friend” Shoring WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned countries against the fallacy of friend shoring. She posed the questions: who is a friend? and will they be a friend tomorrow? These questions are appropriate to ask when it comes to India. Although a democracy, India has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Highly mercantilist, India is the country to opt out of the very modest trade section of the Biden Administration’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The country continues to maintain substantial import barriers even as its trade surplus with the U.S. grows larger each year. Yet companies like Apple and others are rushing to move their production facilities from China to India, which may...
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...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.