It has been a tough year for the ethanol industry. Volatile corn markets, EPA’s delay until the last minute on granting a year-round waiver for E15 that effectively prevented the market from taking advantage, and, of course, the small refinery waivers. But, another factor has been the reduced pace of petroleum refinery operations, which has slowed down the opportunity to blend ethanol. Petroleum refinery runs, have increased each year since 2009, and reached a record in 2018, averaging 17.3 million barrels per day (bpd). However, through the first half of 2019 and the forecast for the rest of the year, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is projecting refinery runs to average 17 million bpd, desp...
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
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.