The war in the Ukraine has now entered year three, after initial predictions in February 2022 that it would last two weeks. As a general rule of thumb, the war has caused more anxiety over ag trade than actual disruptions. A good proxy for looking at what has happened is the trade in sunflower seed and oil, as the region is a major supplier. As WPI’s Black Sea Analysis this week noted, exports from Russia and the Ukraine remain strong. Further, as Gary Blumenthal wrote about the grain stocks and planting intentions reports, sunflower stocks were up and planting intentions are down dramatically.
Sunflower acres in North Dakota are down to the third lowest since records began in 1974. For the remaining produc...
Key Market Insights Geopolitical Limbo: Geopolitical risk remained a key driver across global commodity markets today. President Trump stated that the Iran memorandum of understanding is not yet final and warned that military action could resume if negotiations fail. Both sides continue w...
Key Takeaways: Drought remains a major threat to global agricultural production, particularly in regions with limited rainfall and growing water scarcity. Commercially available drought-tolerant traits in corn, soybeans, and wheat have generally delivered modest yield improvements, limiting th...
Key Takeaways: Peace at last in the Persian Gulf? Over the weekend, the U.S. announced and Iranian officials confirmed a peace agreement, with formal ratification set for Geneva on 19 June. The announcement means the Strait of Hormuz is set to reopen fully and toll-free within 30 days.&n...
