Regional News Ukraine’s weekly seaport grain exports increased 47 percent last week, reaching 1.13 MMT. Wheat exports totaled 557,000 MT while corn shipments were 473,000 MT. For the 2019/20 marketing year today, Ukraine has shipped 16.106 MMT of grain, including 10.06 MMT of wheat and 2.76 MMT of corn. The National Australian Bank recently cut its production estimate by 3.5 MMT to 15.5 MMT, citing drought-induced yield losses. The persistent decline in Australian production is leaving opportunities for Ukraine and the Black Sea to export higher volumes to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries this year, especially given the wheat surpluses in the Black Sea region. However, one factor that could create problems for Indonesia...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
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...
From WPI Consulting
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.