There were some jitters this week as Russia and Ukraine stepped up assaults ahead of what may become talks to end the conflict. Alongside concerns about a kinetic war is the uncertainty around the incoming Trump Administration’s aggressions in trade policy.It should be noted that geopolitical uncertainties tend to impact urban areas more than farmers in rural areas. Ukraine and Russia both continue to plant substantial crops. Statistically, weather is the larger enemy of commodity supplies. Commodity futures tend to decline on initial reports of conflict and then return to fundamental levels relatively quickly. Agricultural production remained steady through the invasion of Crimea, Argentina’s political upheavals, the wars in Iraq, etc. Eve...
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.
What Matters Today... Fed holds rates steady as inflation uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict pressures equities and supports broader commodity risk premia Biofuel demand accelerating globally, with U.S. imports of used cooking oil and strong soyoil demand reinforcing upside across the soy c...
Russian Grain Markets: 20-24 April 2026 During the week in review, the Russian grains market remained volatile with a broadly bullish undertone. However, it remains too early to determine whether this shift is being driven by geopolitical factors or short-term positioning. The market continues...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “...