Ag commodity futures were firmer to end the week with traders looking ahead to challenging weather conditions across the Northern Hemisphere and South America over the coming three-day holiday weekend. Weather concerns for planting the 2024 U.S. crops are lingering despite strong progress to date as the forecast remains wet for much of the Midwest over the next 5-6 days. Additionally, the Black Sea is turning warm and dry heading into June, which will not help the frost-beleaguered crops. In response to this, Paris and U.S. wheat futures were mostly higher on Friday (the spot CBOT market being the lone exception) with KC futures hitting their highest price in eight months. Corn futures were higher amid views that the recent wheat/corn sprea...
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.
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...