The Kenyan government has announced that it is raising the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) purchase price for maize by about 22 percent. However, the increase, which was enacted to facilitate the government’s procurement of supplies for its reserve stocks, will only be paid under certain terms. Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTSEgypt’s supply ministry reported that current wheat stocks and orders should be sufficient until March 2017 and noted that it has a $1.8 billion loan to support the building of government reserves of staple food commodity items.Egypt has also announced that it will cease using any open-air grain storage with the next wheat harvest and will not accept any grain stored in that manner. In ad...
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.
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...
Regional News European grocery stores have been targeted by cybersecurity attacks this week, with major retailers in France and the Netherlands affected. In France, major grocers, including Carrefour, Intermarché, and Coopérative U, all suffered attacks in which freezer and...
Key Takeaways: The EPA has proposed reallocating 770 million RINs associated with Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs), either splitting the volume equally between 2026 and 2027 or assigning the full amount to 2027. The agency granted exemptions covering 1.76 billion RINs for 2025, substantially e...