News Updates EGYPT UPDATE As mentioned last week, the Egyptian government reported it has purchased 2.6 MMT of local wheat and is getting closer to its 3 MMT target. With the local crop and the recent level of imports, the government says the country should have about six months of wheat reserves on hand, although others estimate a maximum of three months. GASC puts the reserve stocks at 4.7 MMT.According to budget figures, the government's bread subsidy is expected to reach a record high this year, close to a 50 percent increase over last year's subsidy. For 2012/13 the Egyptian government budgets for about $24 billion on subsidies, about 20 percent of which are for food items and 60 percent for bread or wheat subsidies. Close to 50 perc...
What You Need to Know Today: Cattle futures extended their sharp selloff Friday as weakening cash cattle prices, deteriorating feedlot profitability, and reduced packer demand continued to weigh on the market. The inability of futures to sustain a rally following last week's bullish Cattle on...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: WPI’s new EU rapeseed crushing margin models point to weaker processing returns over the next four months due to higher rapeseed procurement costs and weaker product values. Statistical forecasts call for German crushing margins to decline from €181/MT to €...
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.