Syria’s wheat production collapsed this year, but it was not due to the nearly decade-long civil war. The FAO cites three causes: 1) drought; 2) high input costs; and 3) economic crisis. Indeed, despite massive destruction and poverty due to the war, Syria 2019 wheat crop was the largest since 2003. Looking at other countries that have undergone civil and economic strife and war, including Argentina, Egypt, Iraq and Ukraine, grain output has barely been impacted. This is because most of the adversity happens in urban areas. There may be harsh outcomes in terms of who controls and distributes the harvest, but neither side of a conflict wants to stop food production. ...
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.