Animal Ag Beefs: For too long governments have resigned themselves to incurring the illegal trade practices of others on the basis that negotiation is better than interminable litigation. That sentiment changed dramatically in 2012. The latest is Brazil's rightful threat of WTO dispute settlement action against countries that have banned its beef due to a non-classic case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) even as the OIE maintains a negligible risk rating on the country. And the EU has just announced that it will step up its efforts to enforce trade agreements. Minnesota poultry growers can finally export chicken to China after Beijing lifted a more-than-year-long ban it had put in place due to a low pathogenic avian influenza out...
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
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.