Global food price index jumps 1.4%

rome — Rising prices of cereals, meat and dairy products have pushed the global food price index up by 1.4 per cent compared to last month and seven per cent compared to last year, the United Nations agriculture agency has said.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the rise in the food price index — a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities — was largely because of surging prices of high-protein wheat due to deteriorating crop conditions in the United States. “June marked the second successive month of increase in the value of the food price index,” read an update issued by the UN agency.

On the other hand, price indices for vegetable oils and sugar declined by 6.5 points (3.9 per cent) and nearly 31 points (13.4 per cent), respectively, it added.

The fall in the sugar price index marked a new 16-month low. Prices have fallen steadily since February, with the continued decline reflecting large export availabilities, in particular robust Brazilian supplies.

In terms of the indices, the cereal price index averaged 154.3 points in June (up 6.2 points compared to May); vegetable oil price index, 162.1 points (down 6.5 points); dairy price index, 209 points (up 15.9 points); and sugar price index (197.3 points, down nearly 31 points).

The meat price index averaged 175.2 points in June (up 3.2 points). However, this value was derived using a mixture of projected and observed prices as most prices used in the calculation of the index were not available when the food price index was computed.

Also, the FAO announced that despite tightening supply conditions for high-protein wheat, global cereal supplies are likely to remain abundant in the coming year. —

13.4% drop in sugar price index, a new 16-month low