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Informist, Friday, May 8, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index rose 1.6% on month to 130.7 points in April, marking the third consecutive on-month increase. Prices of vegetable oils, cereals, and meat rose, but those of dairy and sugar declined in April, the global body said in a release. The index for April was up 2% on year, but down 18.4% from the peak reached in March 2022, it said.

 

The vegetable oil price index averaged 193.9 points in April, up nearly 6% from March and the highest since July 2022. The continued increase in the index was driven by higher prices of palm, soy, sunflower, and rapeseed oils as demand from the biofuels sector increased amid high crude oil prices, the FAO said. For the last five months, international palm oil prices have been rising amid higher demand and concerns over lower production in South-East Asia. 

 

The FAO cereal price index averaged 111.3 points in April, up 0.8% on month. Global wheat prices rose 0.8% amid concerns of drought in parts of the US and a higher likelihood of below-average rainfall in Australia. "The price increase was further supported by expectations of reduced wheat plantings in 2026, as farmers shift to less fertilizer-intensive crops amid high fertilizer prices, driven by elevated energy costs and disruptions linked to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz," FAO said. International maize prices increased 0.7% in April, underpinned by seasonally tighter supplies and higher demand from ethanol manufacturers. 

 

Meanwhile, the dairy price index was down 1.1% on month at 119.6 points in April as lower prices for butter and cheese had more than offset the continued increases in prices of skim milk powder. Whole milk powder prices remained broadly stable in April. Butter prices declined after two consecutive monthly increases in April, while cheese prices continued their downward trend amid abundant milk supplies in the European Union and stronger-than-expected late-season output in Oceania. 

 

The sugar price index averaged 88.5 points in April, down 4.7% on month. Prices declined amid expectations of ample global supplies in key Asian producing countries. "The onset of the new harvest in Brazil's key southern growing regions under favourable weather conditions further contributed to the overall decline in international sugar prices," the FAO said. 

 

The price index for meat averaged 129.4 points in April, up 1.2% on month, and hit a new record high. Prices across all meat categories rose, except ovine meat quotations, which remained broadly stable.  End

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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