World food commodity prices rose in February, ending a five-month downward trend, as higher quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils and several meat types outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices, according to the latest report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9 percent from its revised January level, while still 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier.
Logistical disruptions drive wheat prices higher
A 1.1 percent monthly increase in the FAO Cereal Price Index contributed to a rise in world food prices last month. The increase was driven primarily by higher world wheat prices reflecting reports of frosts in parts of Europe and the United States of America, as well as ongoing logistical disruptions within the Russian Federation and the wider Black Sea region.
International coarse grain prices also posted a modest increase, while the FAO All Rice Price Index edged up by 0.4 percent from the previous month, supported by sustained demand for basmati and Japonica varieties.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index also increased by 3.3 percent in February, reaching its highest level since June 2022. International palm oil prices rose amid firm global import demand and seasonally lower outputs in Southeast Asia, while world soyoil prices increased on expectations of supportive biofuel policy measures in the United States of America.
Rapeseed oil prices rebounded, driven by prospects of stronger import demand for Canadian supplies. By contrast, sunflower oil prices eased moderately, partly due to rising export supplies from Argentina.
Read: Central African Republic launches first fully digitalized Ministry
Global cereal stocks to rise by the end of 2026 season
World food commodity prices also rose due to an increase in the FAO Meat Price Index, which rose 0.8 percent from January, as ovine meat prices reached an all-time high and bovine meat prices rose on the back of strong import demand from China and the United States of America. Prices of pig and poultry meats also edged up slightly from January.
Meanwhile, the FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 1.2 percent, driven primarily by lower cheese prices. International quotations for skim and whole milk powders increased notably amid strengthening import demand from North Africa, the Near East and Southeast Asia, while world butter prices registered their first monthly rise since reaching an all-time high in June 2025.
Finally, the FAO Sugar Price Index was down by 4.1 percent from January and by as much as 27.3 percent compared with February 2025 amid expectations of ample global supplies in the current season.
In a separate report, the FAO marginally increased its forecast for global cereal production in 2025 to a record 3.029 billion metric tons, reflecting slight revisions—primarily to maize and rice projections. This level would represent a 5.6% increase compared with the previous year.
Global cereal stocks are also expected to rise by the end of the 2026 season, with the worldwide stocks-to-use ratio projected to remain at a comfortable 31.9 percent.
