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World food commodity prices made a significant leap in March to
reach their highest levels ever, as war in the Black Sea region spread
shocks through markets for staple grains and vegetable oils, the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported today.
The FAO Food Price Index
averaged 159.3 points in March, up 12.6 percent from February when it had
already reached its highest level since its inception in 1990. The Index
tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of
commonly-traded food commodities. The latest level of the index was 33.6
percent higher than in March 2021.
The FAO Cereal Price Index was 17.1 percent higher in March than in
February, driven by large rises in wheat and all coarse grain prices
largely as a result of the war in Ukraine. The Russian Federation and
Ukraine, combined, accounted for around 30 percent and 20 percent of global
wheat and maize exports, respectively, over the past three years. World
wheat prices soared by 19.7 percent during the month, exacerbated by
concerns over crop conditions in the United States of America. Meanwhile,
maize prices posted a 19.1 percent month-on-month increase, hitting a
record high along with those of barley and sorghum. Contrasting trends
across the various origins and qualities kept the March value of FAO’s Rice
Price Index little changed from February, and thus still 10 percent below
its level of a year earlier.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose 23.2 percent, driven by higher
quotations for sunflower seed oil, of which Ukraine is the world’s leading
exporter. Palm, soy and rapeseed oil prices also rose markedly as a result
of the higher sunflower seed oil prices and the rising crude oil prices,
with soy oil prices further underpinned by concerns over reduced exports by
South America.
The FAO Sugar Price Index rose 6.7 percent from February, reversing recent
declines to reach a level more than 20 percent higher than in March 2021.
Higher crude oil prices were a driving factor, along with currency
appreciation of the Brazilian Real, while favorable production prospects in
India prevented larger monthly price increases.
The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 4.8 percent in March to reach an
all-time high, led by surging pig meat prices related to a shortfall of
slaughter pigs in Western Europe. International poultry prices also firmed
in step with reduced supplies from leading exporting countries following
avian flu outbreaks.
The FAO Dairy Price Index rose 2.6 percent and was 23.6 percent higher than
in March 2021, as quotations for butter and milk powders rose steeply amid
a surge in import demand for near and long-term deliveries, especially from
Asian markets.
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