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...
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.
Dry bulk markets were volatile but ultimately steady this week with notable differences in rate developments across vessel classes. The Capesize sector, which led the recent rally in freight rates with its dramatic surge, pulled back slightly amid more cautious chartering activity, partic...
Key Market Insights Macro markets delivered a full whipsaw today. Early in the session, crude oil had rallied back above $100/barrel as traders priced renewed concern over the U.S.-Iran standoff and potential supply risk through the Strait of Hormuz. That strength helped pull grains off their o...
New Trade Agreements U.S. and Indian officials say that bilateral trade negotiations are progressing on a comprehensive deal to expand earlier completed chapters on market access, NTBs and purchases. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become more free trade oriented since consolidating his power...