This week I am in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to participate in a regional conference for the Middle East and North Africa organized by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). USSEC will soon be opening an office in Dubai to manage its market promotion activities for U.S. soybeans and products in the region. The office also will be responsible for USSEC's activities in India that aim to increase India's internal consumption of its own soybeans.This is the first time I have been in Dubai since 2006. It appears this city has recovered from the effects of the 2007/08 global recession and its economy is flourishing once again. New building construction is booming and the UAE is investing an enormous amount in new roads, airport expansion, po...
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.