The benchmark measure for world meals commodity costs rose in February, ending a five-month downward development, as increased quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils and several other meat sorts outweighed declines in cheese and sugar costs.
Based on the brand new replace launched by the Meals and Agriculture Group of the United Nations (FAO), FAO Meals Value Index, which tracks month-to-month modifications within the worldwide costs of a basket of globally-traded meals commodities, averaged 125.3 factors in February, up 0.9 p.c from its revised January degree whereas nonetheless 1.0 p.c under its degree a yr earlier.
The FAO Cereal Value Index elevated by 1.1 p.c from January, pushed primarily by increased world wheat costs reflecting experiences of frosts in elements of Europe and the USA of America in addition to ongoing logistical disruptions inside the Russian Federation and the broader Black Sea area.
Worldwide coarse grain costs additionally posted a modest improve, whereas the FAO All Rice Value Index edged up by 0.4 p.c from the earlier month, supported by sustained demand for basmati and Japonica varieties.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Value Index elevated by 3.3 p.c in February, reaching its highest degree since June 2022. Worldwide palm oil costs rose amid agency international import demand and seasonally decrease outputs in Southeast Asia, whereas world soyoil costs elevated on expectations of supportive biofuel coverage measures in the USA of America. Rapeseed oil costs rebounded, pushed by prospects of stronger import demand for Canadian provides. In contrast, sunflower oil costs eased reasonably, partly on account of rising export provides from Argentina.
The FAO Meat Value Index elevated by 0.8 p.c from January, as ovine meat costs reached an all-time excessive and bovine meat costs rose on the again of robust import demand from China and the USA of America. Costs of pig and poultry meats edged up barely from January.
The FAO Dairy Value Index declined by 1.2 p.c, pushed primarily by decrease cheese costs. Worldwide quotations for skim and entire milk powders elevated notably amid strengthening import demand from North Africa, the Close to East and Southeast Asia, whereas world butter costs registered their first month-to-month rise since reaching an all-time excessive in June 2025.
The FAO Sugar Value Index was down by 4.1 p.c from January and by as a lot as 27.3 p.c in contrast with February 2025 amid expectations of ample international provides within the present season.