China’s food security concerns and import needs will shift in the years ahead regardless of the outcome of the trade war with the U.S. Demographics are destiny and, according to the OECD, China’s decades-long low birth rate means that its population begins to decline starting in 2027. More important from a food balance sheet perspective is how the shifting demographics will affect food consumption.
As the average age of the Chinese population shifted upward toward working age in recent decades, the number of calories consumed increased. China’s work force has been active, either on the farm or in factories, again raising the volume of calories consumed. The population has also been skewed heavier male, currently a...
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...
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
Yesterday, the USDA released its monthly World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), forecasting tighter beef and pork supplies and growing broiler supplies, resulting in a tighter red meat supply. Broiler production, however, continues to grow and is forecast to be up more than 3 percent. Beef...
