The subject introduces concepts of agribusiness, idealistic product differentiation marketing and the global agribusiness environment. Risk is examined and the need for forward markets to offset this risk is explained. Problems with supply chain integration will be detailed, which requires parallel markets to offset price risk but with associated trade-offs and risks. Strategies to manage both price and currency risk will be evaluated. Topics include the market price mechanism, commercial trade markets, characteristics of forward markets, identifying market position and calculating exposure through position valuation, risk transfer mechanisms, establishing risk management objectives, problems with forward contracts under high risk, futures hedging, basis risk, hedging using options, over-the-counter bank pricing products, currency risk management, developing tactics in decision-making, financing commodity inventory and managing commodity and financial risks within the organization.

Subject rules

Readings