Index down again led by lower wheat and maize prices
The benchmark for world food commodity prices fell further in January, led by decreases in the prices for cereal and meat, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Food Price Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities.
The FAO Cereal Price Index showed a sharp 7.1% monthly increase, led by international maize prices, which surged 11.2% and are now 42.3% above their January 2020 level, reflecting increasingly tight global supply amid substantial purchases by China and lower-than-expected production and stock estimates in the United States of America as well as a temporary suspension of maize export registrations in Argentina.
Wheat prices rose 6.8%, driven by strong global demand and expectations of reduced sales by Russia when its wheat export duty doubles in March 2021.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased 5.8% in the month to its highest level since May 2012. Drivers include lower than expected palm oil production in Indonesia and Malaysia due to excessive rainfall and ongoing shortages in the migrant labour force, and prolonged strikes in Argentina reducing export availability for soy oil.
The FAO Sugar Price Index was 8.1% higher than in December, as robust global import demand spurred concerns about lower availabilities due to worsening crop prospects in the European Union, Russia and Thailand, as well as drier than normal weather conditions in South America.
The FAO Dairy Price Index increased by 1.6%, underpinned by China’s high purchases ahead of the country’s upcoming New Year holiday festivities amid seasonally lower exportable supplies in New Zealand.
The FAO Meat Price Index was up 1% from December, led by brisk global imports of poultry meat, especially from Brazil, amid avian influenza outbreaks that have constrained output and exports from several European countries.
