Energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has acquired agriculture price and analytics provider Mercaris in the USA.
The acquisition would accelerate the development of Argus’ agriculture pricing and analytics in the Americas while providing opportunities in biofuels and other agricultural inputs, Argus Media said on 27 June.
Mercaris’ price assessments, analytics and forecasts for organic and non-genetically modified (non-GM) agriculture cover organic corn, soyabeans, soyabean meal, wheat and other small grains, plus non-GM corn and soyabeans, as well as organic dairy markets.
The company’s price assessments for cash crops of organic soyabeans and corn follow International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO)’s principles for price reporting agencies and were used as the basis for physical and over-the-counter options contracts.
In addition to price assessments, Mercaris provides acreage estimates, supply/demand analysis, and facilities density mapping to customers across the agriculture supply chain in the USA, including farmers, processors and retailers alongside government bodies, financial and agricultural inputs companies.
“We are pleased to further expand Argus’ agriculture capabilities in the Americas,” Argus Media chairman and CEO Adrian Binks said.
“The integration of Mercaris into Argus will allow us to scale our offering and provide … new market transparency.”
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
