Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Iraq has devalued its currency by 20 percent, scrapping their old “official” exchange rate. Iraq’s financial situation has become very difficult due to the drop in prices for crude oil and oil products. Iraq does import most of its food needs, including grains, and the devaluation is expected to push prices higher as imports become more costly. The government is the largest employer in the country but recently, due to low oil prices for exports, has had to borrow to pay employee salaries. One can probably surmise that, at least in the short term, the grain business to Iraq will be very difficult. Iraq is reported to be importing the 700,000 MT of feed b...
What You Need to Know Today: President Trump claimed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was over, as both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the agreement. Commercial vessels are increasingly steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz as security risks escalate following Iran...
Russian Grain Markets: 29 June-3 July 2026 The new marketing season has officially begun in Russia, although bearish sentiment has been concentrated in the southern regions closest to the Black Sea ports, where export demand has been weakest. Delays in grain deliveries to inland elevators have...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.