Regional News Russia continues to solidify itself as a rising supplier of agricultural products to China. News broke last week that China’s General Administration of Customs will allow the import of soymeal, sugar beet pulp, rapeseed meal, and sunflower meal from Russia. Those products are added to a growing list that includes the approval of wheat and soybeans from seven specified regions in Russia. Ukraine’s strong agricultural exports are driving economic growth in the country, with the trend prompting ratings agency Fitch to project 3.4 percent GDP growth for the country in 2019. So far in the 2019/20 marketing year, Ukraine has shipped $1.87 billion worth of wheat (primarily to Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh), alo...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
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...
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.