Russian officials announced over the weekend that the country will end its participation in the so-called “export corridor deal” made between the U.N., Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. The move was in response to weekend drone strikes on a Russian vessel in a Crimean port, which Russia blamed on Ukraine. Beyond exiting the deal, Russia intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. While Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN indicated they are committed to continuing exports from the Black Sea, the practical issues of finding insurers and vessel owners willing to take that risk looms large. With Russia explicitly noting it cannot guarantee the safety of civilian vessels, WPI now views the Black Sea as effectively closed to Ukrainian...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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.