All eyes are focused on the outbreak of ASF in the Dominican Republic; the disease was traced to backyard operations and has now been found in 14 of the country's 32 provinces. There are about 20,000 backyard farms in the country and about 400 commercial scale farms. About 18,000 head have been culled. This week President Luis Abinader announced funding of 39 million pesos (about $675,000) to compensate producers. The government will buy hogs and manage pork in cold storage to not oversupply the market further depressing hog prices. The bigger market issue is the spread of ASF outside the country – specifically to Puerto Rico which is about 70 miles east of the Dominican Republic (the outbreak started on the western side of the...
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.
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...