Title: FAO Food Price Index | World Food Situation | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Headings: 
FAO Food Price Index
The FAO Food Price Index continues to rise unabated
Release date: 06/05/2021

Content: » The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 125.1 points in April, up 1.5 points (1.2 percent) from March, resuming its climb after a short-lived one month respite in March, and stood 25.8 points (26.0 percent) above its April 2020 level. Upward pressure from smaller-than-anticipated planting intentions in the United States of America (USA) and concerns about crop conditions in Argentina, Brazil and the USA pushed maize prices up 5.7 percent in April. With overall tightening maize supplies, on top of continued strong demand, maize prices stood 66.7 percent above their values one-year-earlier and remain at their highest level since mid-2013. Among other coarse grains, international barley and sorghum prices continued to soften, falling 1.2 and 1.0 percent in April, but remained 26.8 and 86.5 percent above their respective values in the corresponding month last year. International wheat prices were generally steady in April, remaining over 17 percent above their April 2020 values. While wheat quotations received support from rising maize prices, along with crop condition concerns in the USA and several countries in Europe, the expectations for good global production prospects kept prices generally stable. By contrast, international rice prices decreased again in April, mainly reflecting currency movements and slow trading activities, with persistent logistical constraints and freight costs continuing to hinder fresh deals. » The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 162.0 points in April, up 2.9 points (1.8 percent) month-on-month, driven by rising soy, rapeseed and palm oil quotations more than offsetting lower sunflower oil values. International palm oil prices continued to rise in April on concerns over slower-than-expected production growth in major exporting countries. Soy and rapeseed oil values climbed further too, underpinned by, respectively, firm global demand, including from biodiesel producers, and protracted global supply tightness.