Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS Egypt’s fertile Nile Delta is reportedly suffering from lower water levels in the Nile River, the result of drought in recent years at the river’s source. The Delta region is also being affected by increased salinization of the land, which experts say could lose up to 15 percent of its mass in the next 30 years. Farmers have stopped growing rice in the Delta due to its large water requirement, and they are depending on deep groundwater for wheat and corn crops. A recent report in Egypt indicated that wheat production could drop 18 percent because of water shortages.
Egypt is said to still be looking closely at ways of hedging wheat purchases for 2019/20. It is anticipated...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...