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Informist, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

 

MUMBAI – The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index fell 1.2% month-on-month to 125.1 points in November, marking a third consecutive monthly decline. Declines in price indices of dairy products, meat, sugar and vegetable oils outweighed an increase in the cereal index during the month. The FAO Food Price Index was down 2.1% from a year ago and 21.9?low its March 2022 peak, the organisation said in a report.

 

The Vegetable Oil Price Index fell to a five-month low of 165.0 points in November, down 2.6% on month. The monthly decline primarily reflected lower palm, rapeseed, and sunflower oil prices, which offset higher soyoil prices. Palm oil prices declined globally due to higher-than-expected production in Malaysia. Palm oil prices were much lower than competing oils, the report said.

 

Meanwhile, after several consecutive months of increases, rapeseed oil prices eased on positive global production prospects, while sunflower oil quotations declined amid seasonally increasing supplies from the Black Sea region. Global soyoil prices remained steady and rose slightly, mainly supported by firm demand from the biodiesel sector, particularly in Brazil. Falling crude oil prices also contributed to lowering vegetable oil prices, the organisation said.

 

The Sugar Price Index averaged 88.6 points in November, down nearly 6% on month, and nearly 30% from its level a year ago, marking its third consecutive monthly decline and its lowest level since December 2020. Expectations of ample global sugar supplies in the current season continued to weigh on prices, according to the report.

 

In Brazil's key southern growing regions, sugar production remained strong despite the seasonal slowdown in sugarcane crushing and lower use of sugarcane for sugar production. Moreover, an early start to the season in India's 2025-26 (Oct-Sept) sugarcane harvest and favourable crop prospects in Thailand further reinforced the positive global sugar supply outlook and added downward pressure on prices, FAO said.

 

The Cereal Price Index rose nearly 2% on month in November, even though it was over 5?low its level a year ago. Despite a comfortable supply outlook and reports of good harvests in Argentina and Australia, global wheat prices rose by 2.5% in November, the report said. Wheat prices were supported by potential Chinese interest in supplies from the US, concerns over continuing hostilities in the Black Sea region, and expectations of reduced plantings in the Russian Federation. 

 

International maize prices also rose in November, underpinned by firm demand from Brazil and reports of fieldwork being hampered by rains in Argentina and Brazil. Barley and sorghum prices increased, with prices of all major grains influenced by higher soybean prices, according to the report. On the other hand, the FAO All Rice Price Index declined by 1.5% in November, as subdued import demand kept Indica and fragrant rice quotations under downward pressure, the report said. 

 

The Dairy Price Index averaged 137.5 points in November, down over 3% on month, and 1.7?low its level a year ago. International dairy prices fell for the fifth consecutive month, with declines recorded across all major dairy commodities. The continued easing stemmed from rising milk production and abundant export supplies in key producing regions, supported by ample butter and skim milk powder inventories in the European Union and seasonally higher output in New Zealand. Softer import demand for milk powders in parts of Asia also weighed on prices. 

 

Butter and whole milk powder registered the sharpest declines, driven by increased export availability and stronger competition among major suppliers. But skim milk powder prices fell only moderately amid ample supplies and limited buying interest, according to the report. Cheese prices declined the least, as adequate supplies in the European Union and Oceania were partially offset by firm demand in Asian markets, it said. The cheese price index remained nearly 10?ove its level a year earlier.

 

The Meat Price Index averaged 124.6 points in November, down nearly 1% on month, but almost 5?ove its level a year ago. The monthly decline continued to be driven by lower pig and poultry meat prices, while bovine meat quotations remained broadly stable and ovine meat prices increased.  End

 

Reported by Taniva Singha Roy

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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