Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Turkey and Russia are reportedly discussing “a new mechanism” that could export Ukraine grain from the Black Sea. This could mean a new agreement to replace the Black Sea Grain Initiative that Russia left in July 2023. Grain is currently being shipped from Ukraine on a Ukraine designed “shore hugging” export route. Egypt’s Suez Canal fees reportedly dropped in January 2024 by 40 percent compared to January 2023. 793 fewer vessels passed through the Canal in January. Suez Canal transit fees are a major and very important source of income and FX for the Egyptian economy. Egypt’s South Cairo and Giza Mills have seen profits...
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.