Milling Wheat The Black Sea market was again stable last week. Russia finally received some long-awaited rains, and wheat conditions there have improved. Its exports will certainly reach 25 MMT before the end of the calendar year, and estimates of the final total are still within a wide range of 28-35 MMT. The volume of exportable surplus remaining after the New Year will be key to the price direction in coming months. Saudi Arabia’s SAGO bought 495,000 KMT of optional origin (excluding Black Sea) for January-March delivery at an average price of $267.85/MT, significantly lower than the previous tender of two months ago. Argentina is the cheapest origin on paper, but the quality is uncertain following the recent excessive rains ther...
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.