Macro Trends U.S. Ag Exports to China Fall to Ten-Year Low The USDA-GATS October export data, which covers monthly figures through August 2018, underscores the deep impact of the U.S.-China trade conflict. It shows that just 345,300.4 MT of U.S. agricultural products were shipped to the Middle Kingdom in August, the lowest figure for that month since 2006 when the total was 337,201.2 MT. On a monthly basis, it was the worst since a paltry 287,242 MT were shipped in September 2006. The difference between 2006 and now, however, is the average price (USD/MT). With soybean exports to China falling to their lowest level for the month of August in three years, higher value commodities (e.g., wine, almonds, pork and other food products) are maki...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
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WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.