USSEC recently organized a purchasing process seminar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  Consultants Pedro Lora and Gerardo Luna conducted this conference, which was attended by 23 industry representatives from different purchasing pools and individual firms.  The main topics discussed were related to the “purchasing book” and content varied according to specific customers’ interests.
USSEC Regional Director – Americas Francisco de la Torre opened the seminar and conducted a presentation providing market perspectives of soybeans and products.  Mr. Luna highlighted customers’ potential to improve their actual practices.  The last two sections of program were conducted by a former senior trader and by a representative from the Latin American office of a major freight and brokerage firm based in the U.S.  The program content and roster of speakers added up to a solid continuation of USSEC’s efforts to build up customers’ buying capacities.  Seminar attendees recognized that USSEC programs have leveraged their understanding and helped them see how two macro inputs – soybean meal and corn – represent over 75% of total costs in feed; how their firms can better approach the markets; work with their suppliers; and evaluate and support purchasing decisions.
After the seminar, the USSEC consultants led team visits to provide trade service to core customers.  These groups and companies represent about 80 percent of the grain and U.S. soybean meal imports in the Dominican Republic, including integrated operations, feed and livestock, and poultry and swine producers.