Crude oil prices are at a four-year high and on a trend toward five straight quarters of increases – the longest bull market in more than 10 years. As is often the case with the oil markets, geo-politics is a driving force. U.S. sanctions on Iran are set to go into effect on 4 November, and resulting supply controls by OPEC and Russia are propping up prices. OPEC is especially enjoying the bull ride. Last year net oil export revenues were about $567 billion, up 20 percent from 2016. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is projecting they will grow another 30 percent this year to $736 billion, according to its August forecasts. The difference between past periods of OPEC production control, supply interruptions and market...
What You Need to Know Today: USDA reports are delayed until Tuesday due to the federal holiday on Monday. Over the weekend, President Trump announced a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Russia warmly welcomed and confirmed this ceasefire by conducting more strikes against Ukraine. Specific...
On Saturday, 10 October, at a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, President Trump said that the U.S. and Mexico would come to terms on a new trade deal, and he said Canada does not need to be part of the deal. Trump called the coming agreement with Mexico “great” but gave no d...
Key Takeaways: The United States has steadily lost global wheat export market share since the 1970s, falling from the world's leading exporter to a projected fifth place in 2026/27. The rapid expansion of Black Sea wheat exports, driven by improved productivity and export infrastructure, has r...
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.