World Perspectives

Back to the 1980’s

Economic norms are being dramatically changed by the coronavirus. Nearly 70 countries now restrict the export of medical supplies. There is also now a stronger push for government intrusion into agricultural markets. Some in Europe are calling for a return to intervention stocks to prop up prices, reduce food losses and boost food security. Meanwhile, India has invoked the peace clause of the WTO’s temporary policy on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes to justify the country spending more on rice subsidies than is allowed under the Uruguay Round’s de minimis clause.  India makes the dubious argument that its policy is not trade distorting because even though it is the largest exporter of rice, it isn’t ex...

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Dry bulk markets were quiet this week with the bullish momentum of the past few weeks fading and allowing values to slip lower. September is usually a lackluster month for freight markets as shippers await the North American grain harvest. The lack of Chinese buying of American soybeans is nota...

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European Market Analysis

Milling Wheat  Except for the CBOT futures market, global wheat values were lower last week as larger harvest expectations weighed on market sentiment. With forecasts growing for the 2025/26 crops in Russia, Australia, and Canada, there seems no shortage of wheat supplies this year, which...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry bulk markets were quiet this week with the bullish momentum of the past few weeks fading and allowing values to slip lower. September is usually a lackluster month for freight markets as shippers await the North American grain harvest. The lack of Chinese buying of American soybeans is nota...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 3 September)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

European Market Analysis

Milling Wheat  Except for the CBOT futures market, global wheat values were lower last week as larger harvest expectations weighed on market sentiment. With forecasts growing for the 2025/26 crops in Russia, Australia, and Canada, there seems no shortage of wheat supplies this year, which...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry bulk freight markets continued to strengthen this week, this time with the Supramax and Panamax sectors in the lead. Improved grain demand off the U.S. East Coast  and supported values, alongside stronger interest in coal from South America. Baltic coal demand was also said to be &ldqu...

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Illuminating the value of technical research

On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.

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