Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Egypt’s Safaga port, south on the Red Sea, will be expanded and improved as a result of an agreement between Egypt’s Al Dahra Agriculture and Abu Dhabi based AD Pors Group. There are plans to make Safaga into a regional Red Sea port for agricultural products. Egypt’s annual urban inflation rate is down by 0.2 percent to 12.3 percent. Much of the drop is due to lower prices for vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy products. Central Bank interest rates remain at 21 percent for deposits and 22 percent for lending. Egypt’s government wheat imports in 2025 are reportedly lower by 17 percent versus 2024. The government says that this is due to higher local whe...
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.
What You Need to Know Today: Markets got a surprise with a corn yield of 181.2 bushels/acre in the October WASDE, above the average estimate of 177.6 bushels/acre and up from USDA’s September estimate of 178.5 bushels/acre. Although stronger demand is expected to absorb some of the addit...
The USDA has lowered its 2026 red meat production forecasts slightly while forecasting a slight increase in broiler production. Beef is now projected at 24.802 billion pounds, 75 million pounds less than in September. Cow slaughter is expected to be up; however, this will be offset by lower ste...