World Perspectives
livestock

Arbitraging Energy

Food prices have increased but not as much as energy costs. The latest CPI data shows food at home increased year-on-year in April by 10.8 percent, and by even more for animal proteins. However, the cost of gasoline has jumped from $2.948/gallon in April 2021 to $4.213/gallon last month. U.S. energy costs are a third less than Japan’s, and only half as much as Germany’s. Energy is about 14 percent of U.S. agricultural production costs and likely a larger share in most countries, though it is substantially less a cost burden in Russia. Because shipping water is expensive and even more so when bunker oil prices are high, countries that produce food and extract its water using lower energy costs are more competitive in global mark...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.3025/bushel, down $0.1125 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.2725/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.245/bushel, down $0.225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $322.5/short ton, down $...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Excitement; Over-Reaction, Under-Reaction

Like Lord Tennyson’s troops lined up in the Crimean War, sometimes we are just fodder in the commodity markets. After 40 days and 40 nights of withdrawal from government data reports, we watched as the momentum built for today’s noon EST release of USDA November WASDE report. In the...

Tariff and Macro Policy Change Announcements Coming

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said today that the U.S. is readying an announcement to exempt a number of food and agricultural products not produced in the United States from tariffs. The announcement comes after the President mentioned coffee prices as being high, saying that the U...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.3025/bushel, down $0.1125 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.2725/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.245/bushel, down $0.225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $322.5/short ton, down $...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Excitement; Over-Reaction, Under-Reaction

Like Lord Tennyson’s troops lined up in the Crimean War, sometimes we are just fodder in the commodity markets. After 40 days and 40 nights of withdrawal from government data reports, we watched as the momentum built for today’s noon EST release of USDA November WASDE report. In the...

Tariff and Macro Policy Change Announcements Coming

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said today that the U.S. is readying an announcement to exempt a number of food and agricultural products not produced in the United States from tariffs. The announcement comes after the President mentioned coffee prices as being high, saying that the U...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry-bulk markets were higher last week amid improved freight inquiries, tightening tonnage lists, and traders hoping for increased grain business in late November and early December. Despite hopes to the contrary, there has been essentially no confirmation of any U.S. grain export business to C...

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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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