In today’s Black Sea report, WPI’s analyst points out that Russia and Kazakhstan, and particularly Russia are supplanting Canada as a supplier of linseed. Russia previously produced around a half-million tons a year but is now nearing 2 MMT or half of global production. World production of linseed is just over 3 MMT and is expanding at about 3 percent per year, but trade is flat at around 2 MMT. Considering global oilseed production is around 900 MMT, it is a very minor oilseed and is used mainly for industrial purposes (paints, varnishes), though some envision it as a superfood or its fiber as a feed ingredient. China may be buying more Russian linseed, but the EU is the major importer, taking nearly half of all traded s...
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...
Russian Grain Markets: 4 - 8 May 2026 During the week under review, the Russian grain market began showing more bullish sentiment despite the traditionally slow pace of business during the May holiday period. Russia celebrates several holidays during early May, with Victory Day on 9 May being t...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.