Overnight trading of CME grain and soy futures was more active than has been the case for much of the last several weeks. Due to the Monday holiday in the U.S., last night was the first opportunity for some traders in Asia and elsewhere around the world to respond to USDA’s reports of 12 January. Trading began after a spotty weekend of weather for Argentina and Brazil. The predicted rains did fall over Argentina, and some locations benefited from good amounts. However, they were disappointingly light over quite a number of other areas. Forecasts for the northern half of Brazil indicate warmer and drier conditions than normal for the next 10 days. Soil moisture should be adequate for now, but it will be rapidly lost if the forecast is...
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
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.