The barometer for world food commodity prices declined slightly in June for the third consecutive month, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reported recently.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 154.2 points in June 2022, down 2.3% from May.
The index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly traded food commodities, remained, however, 23.1% higher than in June 2021.
The drop in June reflected declines in the international prices of vegetable oils, cereals and sugar, while dairy and meat prices increased.
The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged 166.3 points in June, down 4.1% from May, but still 27.6% above its June 2021 value.
International wheat prices fell by 5.7% in June but remained 48.5% above their values a year ago.
The decline in June was driven by seasonal availability from new harvests in the northern hemisphere, improved crop conditions in some major producing countries, and higher production prospects in the Russian Federation.
International coarse grain prices also fell by 4.1% but were still up 18.4% from their year-earlier values.
World maize prices fell by 3.5% month-on-month due to increased seasonal availabilities in Argentina and Brazil and improved crop conditions in the United States of America.
Oil prices
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 211.8 points in June, down 7.6% month-on-month.
World palm oil prices declined on seasonally rising output of major producing countries and prospects of increasing supplies from Indonesia.
Meanwhile, world sunflower and soy oil prices declined due to subdued global import demand in the wake of rising costs.
Sugar price
The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 117.3 points in June, down 2.6% from May, marking the second consecutive monthly decline and reaching its lowest level since February, influenced by good global availability prospects.
Slowing global economic growth also weighed on international sugar demand and prices.
“Although the FAO Food Price Index dropped in June for the third consecutive month, it remained close to the all-time high of March this year,” said FAO chief economist, Máximo Torero Cullen.
“The factors that drove global prices high in the first place are still at play, especially a strong global demand, adverse weather in some major countries, high production and transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions due to Covid-19, compounded by the uncertainties stemming from the on-going war in Ukraine.”
Meat and dairy
Meanwhile, the FAO Meat Price Index averaged 124.7 points in June, up 1.7% from May, setting a new record high and exceeding by 12.7% its June 2021 value.
World prices across all meat types increased, with those of poultry meat rising sharply, reaching an all-time high, underpinned by the continued tight global supply conditions impacted by the war in Ukraine and the Avian Influenza outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere.
The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 149.8 points in June, up 4.1% from May and 24.9% above its June 2021 value.
In June, international prices of all dairy products increased. Cheese prices rose the most, mainly underpinned by a surge in import demand for spot supplies amid market concerns over supply availabilities later in the year.
World milk powder prices increased on strong import demand and persistent global supply tightness.
