World Perspectives
energy

Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Half Full or Half Empty?

On 29 July, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has purchased 4.65 million barrels of crude oil to be delivered to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) between October and December 2024.  With this latest round, DOE has purchased 43.25 million barrels to replenish the SPR after emergency releases in 2022 to lower the cost of oil and gasoline. In its announcement, DOE stated that the full amount of 180 million barrels sold “following the unprecedented Russian war against Ukraine” have been “secured.” However, 140 million barrels come from long planned releases through 2027 that were cancelled in late 2022, thus there is not likely to be any market reaction to this announcement. Here's the back...

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FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 November)

Ocean Freight Comments - 22 November 2024By Matt HerringtonThe major story behind dry bulk freight markets remains the same: slack demand causing additional weakness in rates. The downturn in rates is accelerating as markets head into the holiday season, which is usually a lull period for freig...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for November 8-14, 2024. Wheat: Net sales of 549,600 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025 were up 45 percent from the previous week and 29 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 133,900 MT--a marketing-year low--were down 56 percent from the previou...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Lows for Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Fall on Export Data

The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with corn, wheat, and the entire soy complex finding their way into the red for various reasons. Wheat initially rallied on rising tensions and attacks between Rusia and Ukraine, with Ukraine accusing Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missil...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 November)

Ocean Freight Comments - 22 November 2024By Matt HerringtonThe major story behind dry bulk freight markets remains the same: slack demand causing additional weakness in rates. The downturn in rates is accelerating as markets head into the holiday season, which is usually a lull period for freig...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for November 8-14, 2024. Wheat: Net sales of 549,600 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025 were up 45 percent from the previous week and 29 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 133,900 MT--a marketing-year low--were down 56 percent from the previou...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Lows for Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Fall on Export Data

The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with corn, wheat, and the entire soy complex finding their way into the red for various reasons. Wheat initially rallied on rising tensions and attacks between Rusia and Ukraine, with Ukraine accusing Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missil...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview

The monthly Cattle on Feed report will be released tomorrow. Analysts’ pre-report consensus estimates are for the total inventory on feed to be 100 percent of last year’s 11.9 million head, at a range of estimates between 99.5 percent and 101.3 percent of 1 November 2023. This would be 11.6 mil...

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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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