World Perspectives

Rice as a Stable Crop

Last year, India restricted non-Basmati rice exports believing there would be a weather-related short supply. Production was ample and now the country faces record high inventories that will likely be dumped on the world market. The OECD calculates that Indian farmers are implicitly taxed $120 billion a year due to export restrictions. Dry conditions were expected to impact Indonesia’s rice production, but now the ministry says rice imports may not be needed in 2025. South Korea’s population and rice demand is falling and so Seoul has been incentivizing farmers to grow alternative crops like wheat as an import substitution measure. Rice is not as large a food grain as corn and wheat, but it occupies more emotional importance, especiall...

Related Articles

Transportation Perspectives - 20 March

As you probably guessed, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive market sentiment for energy markets and tanker vessel rates. While there have been several developments in the region this week, the big picture factors are the same: the Strait of Hormuz is all but sealed to ve...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.6975/bushel, up $0.065 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $6.08/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.685/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $332.5/short ton, up $10.8 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for March 6-12, 2026. Wheat: Net sales of 189,900 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 58 percent from the previous week and 36 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 383,100 MT were down 11 percent from the previous week and 7 percent from the...

Transportation Perspectives - 20 March

As you probably guessed, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to drive market sentiment for energy markets and tanker vessel rates. While there have been several developments in the region this week, the big picture factors are the same: the Strait of Hormuz is all but sealed to ve...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.6975/bushel, up $0.065 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $6.08/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.685/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $332.5/short ton, up $10.8 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for March 6-12, 2026. Wheat: Net sales of 189,900 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 58 percent from the previous week and 36 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 383,100 MT were down 11 percent from the previous week and 7 percent from the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Energy Pulls Futures Higher, For Now

Tomorrow is Nowruz (spring equinox), the Persian New Year, but there will likely be no break from the war. There continued to be upward price pressure on grains and oilseeds, chasing the spike in fossil fuel prices. There may be ample fertilizer for Northern Hemisphere crops nearing planting ti...

Image
From WPI Consulting

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.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up