The National Export Initiative (NEI) launched by President Obama in his 2010 State of the Union address failed to double American exports (up around half that amount), but it has nonetheless brought benefits. NEI Angels and Demons The National Export Initiative (NEI) launched by President Obama in his 2010 State of the Union address failed to double American exports (up around half that amount), but it has nonetheless brought benefits. We had opined at the time that doubling exports in five years was "a tall order" and cautioned that "exports are highly influenced by global economic growth and currency valuation." However, the president's message was absolutely correct at the time and remains true today: U.S. trade policy needs to be aggr...
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...
From WPI Consulting
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.