Trump's Return Could Spark Major Shifts in Agri-Food Trade

Donald Trump secured a victory over Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election on November 5, marking a return to leadership that could bring sweeping changes to the agricultural commodities markets.

With a second term, Trump’s decisions could pave the way for notable shifts within trade policy, foreign relations and regulatory approaches.

At Expana’s Agri-Food Americas conference in Chicago last month, Alex Kazan, Partner and Geopolitical Co-Lead, Brunswick Group explained the massive impact the 2024 election would have on agricultural markets...

2024 Presidential Election Poised to Reshape U.S. Commodity Markets

As the 2024 Presidential Election quickly approaches, industry stakeholders are closely watching how the outcome could impact commodity markets, which are sensitive to shifts in policy and federal regulations.

When the new president takes office, businesses and consumers may see changes to key issues like trade and foreign policy. Stay tuned to Expana for continuous updates on how the election may affect agricultural and industrial markets.

Presidential Impact on International Trade

Changes in U.S. trade relations could either strengthen or disrupt markets for agricultural exports...

2024 Holiday Spending Expected to Reach New Record

Consumer spending on the winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average across gifts, food, decorations and other seasonal items, according to the National Retail Federation’s latest consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount is about $25 per person more than last year’s figure and $16 higher than the previous record set in 2019.

“The winter holidays are a treasured time for Americans, and they are prioritizing spending on family this holiday season,” NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine...

WFA Summit: Google's Linda Femling on How to Be an Effective Leader in Food and Ag

Global leaders in the food and agriculture sectors are challenged with feeding a growing world population while advancing gender diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organizations. 

WFA, an initiative by Expana, has been championing gender equality and diversity within the agrifood industry for over four years. WFA provides agribusinesses with programs, content, and resources designed to foster innovation and creativity to solve the big challenges in the food and ag space. 

The highly anticipated Women in Food and Agriculture (WFA) Americas Summit, held in Chicago on October 7, 2024, provides a platform for CEOs, aspiring leaders, and industry professionals to convene and discuss some of the most pressing issues confronting the industry today.

The event features a dynamic lineup of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, offering participants actionable insights and solutions to address key challenges and further their careers through prime networking opportunities. 

The Retail Rundown:  Port Strike Sends Shockwaves Throughout Supply Chain 

The strike at East and Gulf Coast ports officially began once the calendar turned to October, following unsuccessful contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).

The strike's impact is being felt throughout the supply chain, causing significant disruptions in the flow of goods ahead of the rapidly approaching holiday season. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, USMX stated that its current offer includes a nearly 50% wage increase. In response, ILA said it has rejected USX's offer "because it fails to address...

Biden-Harris Administration Delivers Over $26.7 Billion In Market Access for U.S. Agriculture

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has secured over $26.7 billion in agricultural market access across the globe for America’s farmers, ranchers, fishers, and food manufacturers. Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack have worked to ensure American agriculture can reach global markets and customers around the world...

US Foods Announces Private Offering of $500 Million of Senior Unsecured Notes

US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, US Foods, Inc. (“US Foods”), intends, subject to market and other conditions, to offer (the “Offering”) $500 million in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2033 (the “Notes”). US Foods intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to repay a portion of the amounts outstanding under its term loan facility.

The Notes and the related guarantees thereof will be offered in a private offering exempt from the registration...

Consumer Emphasis on Value and Need-Based Spending Continues in August,Reports Circana

Final wave of back-to-school spending is delayed, but there are opportunities to disrupt evolving consumer behavior and future shopping seasons

Traditional retail milestones, like the back-to-school shopping season, are being reshaped by changing consumer behavior, according to Circana™, a leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior. During the four weeks ending August 31, 2024, total U.S. retail sales revenue across the combined view of discretionary general merchandise and consumer packaged goods (CPG) declined 1% when compared...