The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index rose for the third consecutive month in May 2024, after a sustained period of decline. The index, which tracks the international prices of a basket of commonly traded food commodities, averaged 120. 4 points last month, marking a 0. 9% increase from April’s revised level.
Despite the uptick, the index remained 3. 4% lower compared to May 2023 and a significant 24. 9% below its peak of 160. 2 points reached in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a major grain exporter.
The rise in May was primarily driven by a surge in cereal prices, which climbed 6. 3% month-on-month. This increase was fueled by concerns about unfavorable crop conditions potentially impacting harvests in key producing regions like North America, Europe, and the Black Sea area. Wheat prices experienced the sharpest rise due to these anxieties.
The FAO All-Rice Price Index also inched up by 1. 3% in May, while the Dairy Price Index edged 1. 8% higher compared to April. This increase in dairy prices reflected rising demand from the retail and food service sectors ahead of the summer holidays, coupled with market expectations of a potential decline in milk production in Western Europe.
On the other hand, the FAO Sugar Price Index and the Vegetable Oil Price Index experienced declines in May. The Sugar Price Index dipped 7. 5% due to ample supply driven by a strong start to the new harvest season in Brazil. Vegetable oil prices also followed suit, decreasing slightly.
The FAO’s report highlights the ongoing volatility in global food prices, with uncertainties surrounding weather patterns and geopolitical tensions potentially influencing future trends. While the overall index suggests a moderate increase after a period of decline, the rise in cereal prices, a critical component of the global food basket, warrants close attention in the coming months.
