The uncertainty that Russia’s invasion has brought to agricultural markets continues. Roughly 32.9 million MT of grain has been exported from Ukraine since the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) began in July 2022. Russia refused to extend it Monday, siting the continued sanctions which target Russian leadership and financial institutions, which extended to its exclusion from the SWIFT international payment system. Russia's withdrawal from the BSGI, which includes canceling its guarantees for safe navigation, also ended a agreement between the United Nations and Moscow in which U.N. officials agreed to help Russian food and fertilizer exports reach world markets. China is a notable exception to the U.S. led effort to impose sanc...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
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.