Today was mildly volatile in the market with closing gains limited to soyoil and ethanol, purportedly due to their relationship to elevated petroleum prices. But that is a loose association in a market where overall demand has practically collapsed. Higher petroleum prices can be helpful in ordinary markets, but this is no ordinary market. The price of petroleum was up a record 30 percent at one point on assertions by President Trump that he thinks he can get Russia and Saudi Arabia to agree to a production cut of 10 million barrels/day, and boastfully perhaps 15 million barrels/day. By the end of the session, petroleum was up around 20 percent. Corn opened down but caught the petroleum bug briefly posting a 10-cent gain that...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize vessels seeing continued pressure from weaker demand while fixtures and rate strength gradually increases towards the smaller vessel classes. Tanker markets are pulling back from their recent highs as tonnage moves out of the Mid...
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...
Key Takeaways: Texas illustrates the assumptions underlying the 2025 FMMO reform; Idaho exposes their limitations. The Southwest order blend (roughly 27 percent Class I, 32 percent Class III and 31 percent Class IV) exposes Texas producers to every lever USDA adjusted, with a near-neutral proj...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.