Forecasts articles — Vesper Blog

Why MPC isn't a clean swap for WPC80, but buyers are reaching for it anyway

As WPC80 hits historic highs, MPC is catching the spillover bid. See where the swap actually works, why prices are moving and what's next.

How highly accurate commodity forecasts are built - inside Vesper’s methodology

How to estimate US WPC80 instant and WPI prices from dry whey and Class III milk, and where the proxy formulas break.

US NFDM prices surged 90% in five months. Here's what's next.

From $1.18/lb in early December 2025 to a record of $2.2625/lb on May 4, 2026. The rally pushed NFDM to its highest level in 12 years.

Filling a gap in US dairy: the Vesper US SMP price benchmark

This US SMP price benchmark fills a gap in public US dairy reporting. Compare US, EU, and Oceania SMP side by side, with forecasts on each.

How WPC80 protein forecasts work

What actually goes into a WPC80 protein forecast? Foundation models, fundamentals, technical indicators, and the data behind it.

Inside the CME spot call: from daily settlement price to a forward-looking price forecast

how CME spot call prices work, who in US dairy uses them, and how Vesper visualizes the same data with a forecast.

Why procurement managers pair USDA prices with price forecasts

USDA prices anchor your contracts but lag the market by weeks. See how an AI price forecast on the same USDA series turns a backward-looking

What the CBOT price really tells you (and what It doesn’t)

The CBOT price is an auction, not a forecast. See what the settle really tells US buyers, what it doesn't, and what to pair it with.

Why futures prices are not forecasts (and what a real forecasts looks like)

A futures curve is not a forecast, even when they look alike on a screen. Here's the distinction that matters for CBOT and CME procurement.

WPC80 in 2026: why US buyers can't find product at any price

US WPC80 prices doubled from $5.80/lb to over $10.50/lb in six months. GLP-1 demand, production constraints, and a global investment...

Major sports nutrition brands are telling consumers why whey prices are going up in 2026

WPC80 prices have quadrupled in three years. Here's why XXL Nutrition and Upfront publicly justified their price hikes and what the data...

Wheat types for industrial baking: Procurement manager's buying guide 2025

Wheat procurement best practices for industrial baking. Compare hard, soft, durum & milling wheat prices, seasonal trends.

Why coconut oil prices increased by 33% in 2025: A complete month-by-month timeline

Discover why coconut oil prices surged 33% in 2025. Explore key drivers, monthly market events, and expert price outlooks.

How weather may shape bakery ingredient prices in 2026 — with key recommendations on when to buy

Discover how extreme weather in 2025 is affecting global supply chains and pricing for sugar, grains, oils, cocoa, and nuts.

Procurement in the sugar market: what makes it so different? – Insights from Head of Marketing & Global Supply Chain at Viterra

Head of Marketing & Global Supply Chain at Viterra shares key insights on how buyers can manage long-term risk.

Sugar markets in turmoil: Why 2025 is the most challenging year for procurement teams

Learn how procurement teams are adapting their buying strategies to navigate EU production cuts, weather extremes, and ethanol competition.

Fonterra’s approach to commodity risk, index pricing and the future of dairy

Discover how Fonterra’s President of Global Ingredients, Richard Allen, deals with volatility in the global dairy market.

Egg market dynamics: Understanding price volatility and regional supply challenges

Industry expert Anders Wurcel from Ovodan analyzes current egg market trends, regional price differences, and future outlook.

The impact of rising cocoa powder prices on the European bakery industry

European bakery manufacturers face unprecedented challenges as cocoa powder prices soar by 40%. Discover how premium and mass-market producers are adjusting formulations, procurement strategies, and pricing to protect margins while maintaining quality.

Strong Source episode 23: forecasting the future with Goldman Sachs' Daan Struyven

Explore expert insights from Goldman Sachs’ Daan Struyven on gold prices, oil demand, AI’s impact on commodities.

Dairy Café Recap: Key 2025 Dairy Market Insights and Trends

Discover key 2025 dairy market insights, including trends, FMD impacts, New Zealand production. Stay ahead with actionable updates.

2024 Bakery Costs Unpacked: Butter Highs, Sugar Lows, and the Outlook for Ingredients

Explore 2024 bakery cost trends: soaring dairy, stable eggs, and falling sugar prices, plus insights into 2025 market expectations.

2024 Cheese Market Resilience Amid Dairy Volatility: Trends, Challenges, and 2025 Outlook

Explore the 2024 cheese market's resilience amid dairy volatility, production growth, supply challenges, and the outlook for 2025.

2024 Chocolate Market Turmoil: Cocoa Prices Surge Amid Supply Shortages and Dairy Volatility

Explore the 2024 chocolate market’s challenges with soaring cocoa prices, volatile dairy costs, and sugar relief.

2024 Dairy Market Insights: Tight Supply, Surging Prices, and Shifting Production Trends

2024 dairy trends: tight milk supplies, record butterfat prices, and rising specialty proteins. Insights for 2025.

2024 Fortified Foods Sector: Protein Ingredient Pressures, Market Growth, and Emerging Trends

Explore the 2024 fortified foods sector: protein ingredient pressures, market growth, and emerging trends in protein-enriched products.

2024 Infant Nutrition Market: Rising Ingredient Costs, Dairy Protein Pressure, and Oil Volatility

Discover the 2024 infant nutrition market: rising ingredient costs, dairy protein pressures, oil volatility, and 2025 challenges ahead.

2024 Oils and Fats Market Volatility: Price Fluctuations, Sourcing Challenges, and Sustainability Trends

Explore the 2024 oils and fats market with price surges, sourcing challenges, and sustainability trends shaping the industry for 2025.

2024 Sugar & Sweeteners Market Trends: Price Declines, Production Shifts, and Evolving Consumer Preferences

Discover the 2024 sugar and sweeteners market trends, with price drops and shifting consumer preferences shaping 2025.

2024 Whey Protein Market: Record Prices Drive 13% Cost Increase in Sports Nutrition

The sports nutrition industry navigated significant market volatility in 2024, particularly in whey protein ingredients which form the foundation of many…

Technical vs. Fundamental Analysis in Agri Commodities: How AI Can Improve Price Forecasting

Discover how AI-powered analysis combines technical and fundamental insights for more accurate price forecasting in agricultural commodities.

The EUDR Postponement is Official: Vesper Tackles Transparency Issues with a a range of Forward Price Benchmarks For Crude Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)

Discover how Vesper is tackling palm oil price transparency amid the EUDR postponement, with new Forward Price benchmarks.

Announcing Our New Partnership with EMGE: Enhancing Packaging Commodity Intelligence on Vesper

Vesper partners with EMGE to deliver expert Paper, Packaging, and Tissue market insights, enhancing decision-making for users in the packaging commodity sector.

Weekly Weather and Crop Forecasting Analysis Available on Vesper Through New Partnership with EarthDaily Agro

Explore weekly weather and crop forecasts on Vesper with data powered by our partnership with EarthDaily Agro.

Vesper Leads with the First EUDR-Compliant Forward Pricing Benchmarks for Palm Oil 2025

Discover Vesper’s industry-first EUDR-Compliant Forward Pricing Benchmarks for Palm Oil 2025, updated daily.

New partnership announcement: OIL WORLD’s weekly market analysis now available on Vesper

Read more about the strategic partnership between Vesper and OIL WORLD, the global leader in market analyses since 1958.

Top 7 Insights into US Dairy Market Trends: Prices, Production, and Forecast for 2024

In the global agriculture market, the US dairy market stands out as a global powerhouse, both in terms of production and consumption.

El Niño unlikely to have a significant negative impact on the total global vegetable oil production

Explore the impact of El Niño and other weather patterns on soybean, palm oil, rapeseed, sunflower, and olive oil production.

5 Key Data Points Shaping Palm Oil Market in Indonesia and Malaysia

Discover 2024 predictions for the palm oil market in Indonesia and Malaysia, focusing on sustainability, production, and exports.

Exploring the impact of farming practices on the global dairy market - 10 questions with Philipp Goetz, Head of Sales and Business Development at IFCN

Dive into the impact of farming practices on the global dairy market in our in-depth interview with Philipp Goetz.

2023 Global Dairy Market Review and 2024 Outlook: Insights and Forecasts

Discover the evolving trends in the dairy market for 2023 and gain insights into the dairy market outlook for 2024 with our newest blog post.

5 Critical Metrics Driving Soybean Oil Prices in the United States: A 2024 Forecast

Explore the critical metrics influencing US soybean oil prices, from production volumes and biofuel industry impact to global trade dynamics.

Non-Fat Dry Milk: 2023 Market Recap and 2024 Outlook for the US market

Explore a 2023 market recap and 2024 outlook trends for Non-Fat Dry Milk (NFDM) and Skim Milk Powder (SMP) 2024.

Beyond Guesswork: Utilising Forecasts to Navigate Commodity Price Fluctuations

Master commodity trading with AI forecasts. Gain insights on price, production, and stock trends to make informed, market decisions.

Maximizing opportunities: utilizing 2024's top 5 agricultural commodity trends

2024's top 5 agri-commodity trends revealed! Gain strategic insights for market navigation, including specific dairy and oils/fats outlooks.

Why Vesper’s Milk Valorization model is an invaluable tool for dairy commodity producers

Optimize dairy profits with Vesper's Milk Valorization model. Make informed decisions for maximum ROI. Try our free calculator now!

Crop and weather analyses in collaboration with HSAT, now available on Vesper

HSAT & Vesper offer in-depth crop and weather analyses. Stay ahead with accurate forecasts and data for smarter agricultural investments.

Buttering up global trade forecasting

Revolutionise your global trade forecasting with Vesper's insights on the butter market. Stay ahead in a volatile commodity landscape.

Global dairy trade streams: gaining strategic advantages in the dairy market using Vesper

Discover the Strategic Advantages of Global Dairy Trade Streams with Vesper: Gain a Competitive Edge in the Dairy Market. Learn how Vesper's innovative solutions empower businesses to thrive in the ever-evolving dairy industry. Read more to unlock growth opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.

Understanding vegetable oil crop seasonality: a guide to forecasting supply and demand

Discover the significance of vegetable oil crop seasonality in agricultural production. Learn how understanding the timing of planting, midseason, and harvest can forecast supply and demand, optimize market timing, and mitigate risks. Explore valuable insights and analysis on soybean and other crops, and how weather impacts yield. Read more on Vesper's blog.

Forecasts