Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Corn and wheat imports in the region could find sourcing more difficult with Romania banning exports of both for the next couple of months. Turkey is normally a buyer of Romanian corn as are most other eastern Mediterranean countries. According to export statistics, Romania has exported 4.3 MMT of wheat and 3.0 MMT of corn to non-EU destinations in the first 10 months of the marketing year. Afghanistan is about to receive its first lot of 5,000 MT of donated wheat from India – shipped in 251 containers. This is the first lot in the 75,000 MT of wheat donated by India to Afghanistan. India is also selling a total of 90,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan (50,000 MT) and Lebano...
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...
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...
Regional News European grocery stores have been targeted by cybersecurity attacks this week, with major retailers in France and the Netherlands affected. In France, major grocers, including Carrefour, Intermarché, and Coopérative U, all suffered attacks in which freezer and...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.