World Perspectives
farm-inputs

South America’s Fertilizer Situation

Rabobank reports that fertilizer supplies will improve in 2023 with downward pressure on phosphate and potash prices, but nitrogen may see a 20-30 percent price hike. This is an important competitiveness factor for agricultural exporters. North and South America both have abundant supplies of petroleum, though the North produces four times as much. Natural gas is a most efficient source for nitrogen, and North America annually produces more than five times as many terawatt-hour equivalents in natural gas than does South and Central America.  South America’s share of global agricultural trade is growing, provided food sovereignty movements and eco-protectionism doesn’t stop it. But at this juncture, the region is more depen...

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soy-oilseeds

U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook

U.S. soybean processing margins have seen considerable volatility over the past month as multiple fundamental factors upended global oilseed and product prices. The most obvious influence was the recent trade war and tit-for-tat escalation in tariffs between the U.S. and, which was exacerbated...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 25 April)

Transportation and Freight Market Comments - 25 April 2025 By Matt Herrington Dry-Bulk Ocean Freight Dry bulk markets turned higher this week as buyers booked May-June cargoes after the USTR said the 301 port fees against Chinese vessels will not start until October. Shipping lines remain reluc...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Markets Continue Rebound

Soybeans and corn rose in overnight trading on optimism about the de-escalation of the trade war with China, the world’s largest importer of the oilseeds. Both opened lower this morning but climbed out of the hole to end higher. Wheat closed lower overnight and opened that way this mornin...

soy-oilseeds

U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook

U.S. soybean processing margins have seen considerable volatility over the past month as multiple fundamental factors upended global oilseed and product prices. The most obvious influence was the recent trade war and tit-for-tat escalation in tariffs between the U.S. and, which was exacerbated...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 25 April)

Transportation and Freight Market Comments - 25 April 2025 By Matt Herrington Dry-Bulk Ocean Freight Dry bulk markets turned higher this week as buyers booked May-June cargoes after the USTR said the 301 port fees against Chinese vessels will not start until October. Shipping lines remain reluc...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Markets Continue Rebound

Soybeans and corn rose in overnight trading on optimism about the de-escalation of the trade war with China, the world’s largest importer of the oilseeds. Both opened lower this morning but climbed out of the hole to end higher. Wheat closed lower overnight and opened that way this mornin...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: CBOT Ends Mixed on Planting Pace, Weather, South American Outlook

The CBOT ended mixed on Tuesday as traders parsed through a slew of different data points. Perhaps the most influential news for the day was private crop analysts’ upward revisions to the Brazilian and Argentine corn crops, which combined with a strong start to planting the U.S. 2025 crop...

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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.

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