Sugar prices in Maharashtra may be dropping as new stocks become available at the market, but they could rise over the next few months because of one anticipated scarcity. There is also a fear that this could be the earliest season for some mills, and the current import duty may need to be reconsidered. Inflation Lowered by Demonetization As a follow-up to last week’s report regarding demonetizaton slowing consumption, the government of India (GOI) has been able to achieve at least one target - lower inflation. Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation is down to a two-year low of 3.15 percent for November 2016 versus 3.39 percent for the previous month. It had been 3.72 percent in July 2016 (one month post-monsoon) and rose to 3.85 per...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...
Regional News European grocery stores have been targeted by cybersecurity attacks this week, with major retailers in France and the Netherlands affected. In France, major grocers, including Carrefour, Intermarché, and Coopérative U, all suffered attacks in which freezer and...
Key Takeaways: The EPA has proposed reallocating 770 million RINs associated with Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), either splitting the volume equally between 2026 and 2027 or assigning the full amount to 2027. The agency granted exemptions covering 1.76 billion RINs for 2025, substantially e...