The U.S. mid-term Congressional election is five weeks away; one election that much of agriculture is watching is Brazil’s Presidential race. In the first round of voting – among 11 total candidates – former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula) garnered 48.43 percent of the vote while incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro received 43.2 percent of the vote. With neither candidate getting a majority of 50 percent (plus one), the election now moves to a runoff on 30 October. Bolsonaro’s electoral base is in the south and west of the country including most all of the key agricultural states, while Lula’s is in the north and east. The one ag state that Lula won was Minas Gerias; the rest went to Bols...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize rates turning around from their recent weakness and posting solid gains on improved Chinese demand. Panamax vessels, on the other hand, saw rates decline amid greater tonnage availability in the South Atlantic and falling U.S. Gu...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Key Takeaways: Brazil confirmed a Newcastle disease outbreak at a commercial turkey farm in Santa Catarina on 18 October, raising concerns about potential disruptions to poultry exports despite the outbreak being confined to a single facility thus far. Mexico and Malaysia have imposed nationwi...
Argentina Sunflower Sunflower remains one of the most attractive crops in Argentina, supported by strong demand and favorable prices that currently offer some of the best projected production margins among summer crops. Planted area is estimated at 3.0-3.1 Mha, with around 42 percent already se...
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.