LDP Chooses TPP: Reports indicate that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has instructed his cabinet ministers to begin more proactively pursuing trade negotiations, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). When Mr. Abe visits Washington next month he likely will be looking for reassurance from President Obama that he will receive leeway on the one area of most sensitivity in Japan: agriculture. In particular, Tokyo needs the ability to continue protecting the domestic rice industry. Given the political need for Washington to avoid an internal political fight over defensive products like sugar and perhaps dairy, it is a plausible concession for the White House to offer. An additional benefit would be identifying areas where more com...
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.