While U.S. agriculture groups push for passage of the TPP, the longer-term stakes for restoring the Japanese economy, a major market for U.S. agricultural exports, may also ride on its successful implementation.Having been burdened by slow growth and ultra-low inflation, Japan’s economy is now in deflation. Consumer prices in March were lower than a year ago, and real gross domestic product (GDP) is declining. Government debt exceeds 200 percent of GDP, and the deficit is about 7 percent of it. This follows slightly more than three years of Abenomics, the plan implemented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It called for a three-tiered approach to the economy, which included easy monetary policy, fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms to the lab...
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...
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.