The Labor Day holiday marks the unofficial end of summer in the U.S. with schools reopening, the football season underway, Congress returning to Washington, and fall harvests already beginning in southern production areas. This fall promises to be very active from almost any perspective. Macro factors include the booming U.S. economy versus the economic woes among developing economies; the bullish, volatile oil market; U.S. politics and the midterm election in November; and multiple trade conflicts. More directly related to grain and soy markets will be the course of the U.S. corn and soybean harvests; the tightening world wheat and corn balances; Northern Hemisphere winter wheat planting; spring planting in South America; and the ongoing d...
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.
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 big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
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...