Global food prices continued to rise for the third consecutive month, driven by higher vegetable oil, meat and cereal prices that outweighed declines in sugar and dairy products.
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks global prices for a basket of food commodities, averaged 130.7 points in April 2026, rising 1.6% from March, according to the Friday report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The number was 2.0% above its level from a year earlier, but still 18.4% below the March 2022 high.
Vegetable Oils, Cereals Surge
Vegetable oils posted the sharpest jump among the major categories, with the FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index climbing 5.9% in April to 193.9 points, marking the strongest level since July 2022.
FAO attributed the rise to higher prices for palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils, with biofuel demand and higher crude prices cited as key supports. The agency also pointed to worries about weaker output in Southeast Asia, while noting sunflower oil markets were also influenced by tight availability around the Black Sea.
Cereals also moved higher, with the FAO Cereal Price Index up 0.8% in April to 111.3 points. The organization said most major grains rose, while sorghum and barley were exceptions.
Wheat prices increased 0.8% due to drought in parts of …
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