Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Afghanistan’s takeover by the Taliban could slow the development work on Iran’s Chabahar port which has been a cooperative project of Iran, India, and Afghanistan. Experts have commented that the Taliban would be more likely to support the use of Pakistan ports rather than one in Iran. Afghanistan also has a very small border area with China that could see an expansion of joint trade if China recognizes the Taliban government. Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Grain Elevators has seen profits increase by 33.1 percent as poultry farmers switched to compound feed due to the shortage of raw materials for on-farm feed production. The company also reported that its p...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
Russian Grain Markets: 4 - 8 May 2026 During the week under review, the Russian grain market began showing more bullish sentiment despite the traditionally slow pace of business during the May holiday period. Russia celebrates several holidays during early May, with Victory Day on 9 May being t...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “...
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.