World Perspectives

Branstad Departs; Speculatively Correct; Bullish Tractors

Branstad Departs Former Iowa governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad is departing his post in Beijing. Some call it a perilous time to leave given souring bilateral relations, others say it is only because he needs to campaign for Mr. Trump’s re-election. Alternatively, U.S.-China relations are soured but not bitter, he has already served for three years, which is a long-time in a grueling job he would likely be departing anyway, and he is protesting Beijing’s decision to block his article from appearing in the China Daily news. Either way, there has likely been no greater friend to U.S. agriculture in that diplomatic post, and unlikely to be one in the future since the rivalry has grown far more strategic in natur...

WPI on Twitter

Related Articles

FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 19 April)

Ocean Freight Comments - 19 April 2024 By Matt Herrington Spot dry-bulk freight markets remain weak amid dull April demand but rates are improving for May and June with improved interest in booking cargoes. Chinese demand for iron ore and coal has improved and bolstered capesize rates while gra...

Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 19 April)

Ocean Freight Comments - 19 April 2024 By Matt Herrington Spot dry-bulk freight markets remain weak amid dull April demand but rates are improving for May and June with improved interest in booking cargoes. Chinese demand for iron ore and coal has improved and bolstered capesize rates while gra...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for April 5-11, 2024 Wheat:  Net sales reductions of 93,600 metric tons (MT) for 2023/2024 were down noticeably from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 487,800 MT were down 22 percent from the previous week, but unchanged fro...

FOB Prices and Freight Rate App (Updated 19 April)

Ocean Freight Comments - 19 April 2024 By Matt Herrington Spot dry-bulk freight markets remain weak amid dull April demand but rates are improving for May and June with improved interest in booking cargoes. Chinese demand for iron ore and coal has improved and bolstered capesize rates while gra...

Interactive Ocean Freight Rates (Updated 19 April)

Ocean Freight Comments - 19 April 2024 By Matt Herrington Spot dry-bulk freight markets remain weak amid dull April demand but rates are improving for May and June with improved interest in booking cargoes. Chinese demand for iron ore and coal has improved and bolstered capesize rates while gra...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for April 5-11, 2024 Wheat:  Net sales reductions of 93,600 metric tons (MT) for 2023/2024 were down noticeably from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 487,800 MT were down 22 percent from the previous week, but unchanged fro...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Looking for Market Movers

The bearishness continues as South America crops loom and Northern Hemisphere weather is stable. The impending flood of Argentine soymeal and soyoil onto the market sent the May soyoil contract to a new low.  There was nothing in today’s weekly USDA Export Sales report to alter the...

Image
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.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up