General Comments Note: Grain and soy futures markets will be closed tomorrow, Friday, 6 April, for the Easter holiday as will most financial markets (and WPI). The U.S. government will be open.Markets faced a variety of inputs today. Dalian futures reopened after the Chinese holiday with soybeans, soy products and corn rushing to catch up to the gains posted by Chicago markets during China's time off. Malaysian palm oil prices continue to rally with the May contract close to a 13-month high.U.S. unemployment claims hit a four-month low. The Labor Department's jobs report will be out tomorrow, with unemployment expected to remain unchanged at 8.3 percent. The dollar moved higher again versus the euro as the interest rate on Spanish notes...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
Key Takeaways: A student group from the University of Chicago is protesting to bring back onion futures trading. Trading in onion futures was banned in 1958 following a spectacular bout of market manipulation that resulted in a corner of the physical market. The ban on onion futures led t...
Beef packer margins deteriorated to $141/head last week, down $55 from the prior week as fed cattle prices strengthened while the Choice cutout remained nearly unchanged. The cutout held near $373/cwt while fed cattle prices climbed $4/cwt to $224/cwt, narrowing processor profits. Despite the d...
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.