Macro Trends China’s Ag Investment Lags, Slows Rural Development Goals As reported by the China rural economy blog, Dims Sums, the central government is desperately seeking to increase investment in the ag sector to prop up rural economies. China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) reported at the beginning of January that fixed asset investment in agriculture through the first eleven months of 2020 was up year-on-year by 18.2 percent. That compares to just 2.6 percent of total fixed asset investment across all sectors of the country’s economy. While the number seems impressive, as Dims Sums notes, it fails to recognize the massive fall-off that occurred in 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. In January o...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.