There is much gnashing of teeth over the persistent burden of the pandemic on the world but the trade sector appears to have overcome it, and its associated logistical burdens. The WTO announced that its forecast for increased merchandise trade in 2021 over 2020 was raised to 10.8 percent, up from the 8 percent it forecast in March. By contrast, the IMF trimmed its forecast for global GDP growth to slightly less than 6 percent. The WTO has trade growth slowing in 2022 to 4.7 percent while the IMF sees GDP returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. There is no breakout at this time of global agricultural trade in the WTO data. However, if U.S. trade is any example, exports are up by 24.9 percent in value terms, and imports have risen by 21.3...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.