Featured publications
Journal; magazine; bulletin
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #5, 13 June 2025 - Monthly report on food price trends
13/06/2025
World maize prices declined sharply in May 2025 on improved seasonal availability from Southern Hemisphere harvests and record production prospects...
Journal; magazine; bulletin
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #4, 12 May 2025 - Monthly report on food price trends
12/05/2025
Prices of all major cereals increased slightly in April 2025. Tighter exportable surpluses in some major exporters, currency movements and trade policy...
Journal; magazine; bulletin
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #3, 14 April 2025 - Monthly report on food price trends
14/04/2025
International prices of maize, wheat and rice dropped in March 2025. Rising trade tensions weighed on market sentiment for maize and wheat. Declines...
Journal; magazine; bulletin
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #2, 14 March 2025 - Monthly report on food price trends
14/03/2025
In February 2025, international maize and wheat prices increased due to seasonally tighter supplies and concerns over crop production in key exporting...
Publications
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #1, 10 February 2022
10/02/2022
Wheat export prices eased in January, reflecting increased seasonal availability from large Southern Hemisphere harvests. By contrast, international maize prices were firmer, mostly underpinned by concerns over dry conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. International rice prices also edged up, as main crop harvests drew to a close and purchases by Asian buyers lent them support. In most of West Africa, prices of coarse grains increased or remained stable, in spite of the recently concluded harvests, and were significantly higher year on year, mostly supported by persisting conflicts and higher transportation costs. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains followed mixed trends in January but generally remained significantly above their year-earlier levels across the subregion. In particular, exceptionally high price levels prevailed in South Sudan and the Sudan. In Far East Asia, in Sri Lanka, prices of staple foods increased to record or near record levels in January reflecting further depreciation of the national currency, as well as concerns over the outlook for the approaching main “Maha” paddy crop, affected by shortages of inputs during the growing season.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #10, 9 December 2021
09/12/2021
Wheat export prices increased further in November, reflecting tight export availabilities. International barley and maize prices also increased, while those of rice kept broadly steady reined in by harvest progress in various Asian suppliers and scattered demand. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains followed mixed trends in November lingering at levels higher than one year ago, with exceptionally high levels still prevailing in South Sudan and the Sudan. Across most of West Africa, prices of coarse grains generally levelled off or increased in November, and remained above their year-earlier values, in particular in the regions where worsening security conditions continued to disrupt food trade and markets. In East Asia, prices of wheat grain and wheat flour continued to increase in November in several countries and were mostly well above their year-earlier levels, largely reflecting the high prices in international markets.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #9, 10 November 2021
10/11/2021
International prices of all major cereals increased month on month in October. Wheat prices led the increase, with prices of rice, barley and maize being also firmer. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains followed mixed trends in October and were generally higher than one year earlier, with exceptionally high levels still prevailing in the Sudan and South Sudan. Prices were well above their year-earlier levels also in Uganda and Somalia, due to reduced availabilities, and in Ethiopia, mainly due to macro-economic difficulties and conflict‑related trade disruptions in some areas. In West Africa, prices of coarse grains decreased seasonally in October for the second consecutive month. However, prices were still significantly above their year-earlier values across the subregion, particularly in central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, where increased conflicts continued to disrupt agricultural livelihoods, trade and markets.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #8, 12 October 2021
12/10/2021
Wheat export prices increased for a third consecutive month reflecting continued strong demand amidst tightening export availability. Sustained by a mild improvement in trading activities, international rice prices made marginal increases over the multi-year lows touched in August 2021. Despite improved production prospects in some major exporters, maize prices remained elevated. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains remained stable or increased in September and were generally higher than one year earlier, with exceptionally high levels still prevailing in the Sudan and South Sudan. Prices were well above their year‑earlier levels also in Uganda due to reduced availabilities, and in Ethiopia, mainly due to macro-economic difficulties and conflict-related trade disruptions in some areas. In West Africa, prices of coarse grains levelled off or decreased in September in some countries with the arrival of new supplies from the main season harvests. However, prices still lingered well above their year-earlier values across the subregion supported by strong domestic and export demand, high production costs and protracted conflicts.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #7, 9 September 2021
09/09/2021
International cereal prices followed mixed trends in August. Wheat prices surged as production prospects deteriorated significantly in several major producing countries. Among coarse grains, reduced production forecasts also boosted barley prices, while maize and sorghum prices continued to decline from their multi‑year highs reached in May. International rice prices remained on a downward trajectory in August, influenced by efforts to attract sales and by currency movements. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally increased in August, especially in countries where first/main season harvests dropped sharply. Prices were generally higher than one year earlier, with exceptionally high levels still prevailing in the Sudan and South Sudan. In West Africa, solid domestic demand amidst constrained market availabilities hindered by supply chain bottlenecks and locally volatile security conditions exacerbated seasonal upward trends in the prices of domestically produced coarse grains, which lingered at levels well above their year-earlier values.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #6, 13 July 2021
13/07/2021
Export prices of grains declined in June, influenced by generally good supply prospects, while international rice prices also fell as high freight costs and container shortages limited sales. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains continue at exceptionally high levels in the Sudan and South Sudan, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro-economic difficulties. Prices reached new record highs in the Sudan following a further depreciation of the national currency on the parallel market and the lifting of fuel subsidies, which inflated transport costs. In West Africa, seasonal upward trends in prices of domestically produced coarse grains continued in June in most countries, exacerbated by supply chain bottlenecks stemming from measures still in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as compromised security conditions in some parts, amidst solid domestic demand. As in previous months, in several markets, prices were significantly higher than a year earlier.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #5, 9 June 2021
09/06/2021
International prices of grains increased overall again in May although they began to fall towards the end of the month on improved production prospects. International prices of rice held steady in May, with logistics problems and high shipping costs keeping trading activity subdued throughout the month. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains remained at near-record to record levels in the Sudan and South Sudan, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro-economic difficulties, including currency weakness sustaining food inflation. Prices of maize grain in South Africa climbed moderately in May and remained up on a yearly basis, as the effects of higher prices on the international market have outweighed downward pressure from a substantial maize crop estimated for 2021. In South America, prices of yellow maize increased further in the key producing countries, Argentina and Brazil, remaining well above their year-earlier levels reflecting upward pressure from record export sales and adverse dry crop conditions, respectively. Markets in both countries were also supported by the strong upward trends in international price quotations.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #4, 11 May 2021
11/05/2021
International cereal prices followed mixed trends in April. Prices of maize increased mostly on tightening supplies, but those of wheat remained steady due to generally adequate export availabilities. By contrast, international prices of barley and sorghum fell slightly, while those of rice declined further on currency movements and slow trading activities. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains in the Sudan and South Sudan remained at near-record to record levels, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro-economic difficulties, including local currency weakness sustaining food inflation. Prices of cereals were at high levels also in Ethiopia, mainly due to the continuous depreciation of the country’s currency, which increased transportation and production costs. In West Africa, supply chain bottlenecks and difficult macro‑economic conditions amplified the seasonal increases in the prices of coarse grains in Nigeria and sustained them well above their year-earlier levels, particularly in the northeast region where persistent conflict exacerbated the economic challenges. The year-on-year food inflation reached a nearly 16-year high of 23 percent in March 2021.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #3, 13 April 2021
13/04/2021
International prices of wheat, maize, barley and rice declined in March, following sustained increases for several months, mostly reflecting generally good export availabilities as well as favourable production prospects for this year. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally followed mixed trends in March. In several countries, prices were around or below their year-earlier levels, except in the Sudan and South Sudan, where they were at near-record to record levels, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro‑economic difficulties, including local currency weakness fostering food inflation. In Southern Africa, prices of maize began to fall in several countries in March, slightly earlier than the historical seasonal trends, amid the generally excellent cereal production expectations in 2021 and, in anticipation of the new harvests, the release of old stocks that shored up market availabilities.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #2, 10 March 2021
10/03/2021
International wheat prices were generally stable in recent weeks but those of coarse grains continued to increase amid strong import demand. International rice prices also firmed, driven by demand for lower quality Indica and Japonica varieties. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally followed mixed trends in February. In most countries, prices were around or below their year-earlier levels, except in the Sudan and South Sudan, where they were at near-record to record levels, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro‑economic difficulties, including continuous and sustained depreciation of the local currencies. In Central America, prices of beans mostly decreased in February with the start of the “Apante” season harvest, but remained well above their year-earlier values because of the significant increases in the past two months due to crop losses caused by two consecutive hurricanes in November 2020.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 1, 10 February 2021
10/02/2021
International prices of maize surged in January amid shrinking global export supplies and large purchases by China (mainland). Prices of wheat and barley also increased significantly, supported by strong import demand. Export prices of rice increased for a second successive month reflecting robust demand from Asian and African buyers, combined with tight supplies in Thailand and Viet Nam, two major exporting countries. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally followed mixed trends in January. In most countries, prices were around or below their year-earlier levels, except in the Sudan and South Sudan, where despite some seasonal declines, they were still at near‑record highs, underpinned by insufficient supplies and severe macro-economic difficulties, including continuous and sustained depreciation of the local currencies. In Central America, despite the ongoing second season harvest, prices of beans increased further in January and were well above their year-earlier levels, especially in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, reflecting crop losses caused by the two consecutive hurricanes in November 2020.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 10, 10 December 2020
10/12/2020
International prices of wheat and major coarse grains increased further in November, reflecting continued strong global demand. However, rice values remained steady with support provided by tight availabilities and currency movements in selected South East Asian exporters countering limited demand and harvest pressure in other major origins. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains increased further in the Sudan and South Sudan in November, reaching record highs in several markets of both countries, underpinned by insufficient supplies and difficult macro-economic conditions, including a sustained depreciation of the national currencies. In West Africa, prices of coarse grains eased further in Nigeria with fresh supplies from the 2020 harvest but supply chain bottlenecks amid generally difficult macro-economic conditions sustained them well above their year-earlier values, particularly in the northeast where persistent conflict exacerbated the economic challenges. In Central America, prices of maize and beans increased, especially in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, hit hard by hurricanes Eta and Iota.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 9, 10 November 2020
10/11/2020
International prices of grains increased sharply again in October, driven by reduced production prospects, tighter inventories and strong import demand. By contrast, international prices of rice fell further with the start of the main crop harvests and lacklustre demand. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains followed mixed trends in October, tracking seasonal patterns. In most countries, prices were around or below their year-earlier levels, except in the Sudan and South Sudan, where they reached new record highs in several markets. The impact of insufficient supplies and macro‑economic challenges were compounded by a further recent depreciation of the currency in South Sudan and by flood‑related trade disruptions in the Sudan. In West Africa, with the beginning of the 2020 harvest, the upward surge of prices of coarse grains in Nigeria halted, but prices remained well above their historical levels as a result of the difficult macro-economic environment and the disruptive impact of COVID-19-related restrictive measures to the supply chains.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 8, 13 October 2020
13/10/2020
International grain prices registered strong increases in September on production concerns and diminishing inventories, while international rice prices fell across the board amid slowdown in export demand and sales as well as the approaching main harvests in the Northern Hemisphere. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally increased in September following seasonal patterns. In most countries, prices were around their year-earlier levels, except in the Sudan and South Sudan, where they reached new record highs in several markets, underpinned by currency weakness and flood-related trade disruptions. In West Africa, prices of coarse grains in Nigeria continued their marked upward surge of the past few months as a result of the macro-economic environment and disruption to the supply chains due to the restrictive measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 7, 10 September 2020
10/09/2020
International prices of cereals were generally firm in August. Wheat prices increased in response to low production prospects in Europe and stronger buying interest. International prices of rice also increased, underpinned by seasonally tight export availabilities and increasing African demand. Maize price quotations were mixed, with the benchmark US maize values down from the previous month but those from South America went up. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains generally declined in August, with some exceptions, the most notable being the Sudan, where prices continued to increase steeply with seasonal patterns compounded by a further depreciation of the country’s currency on the parallel market. Price increases were also registered in Somalia, due to unfavourable production prospects and flood‑related trade disruptions. In Central America, prices of beans declined sharply in August, down from the peaks reached in the previous months, mainly reflecting the beginning of the 2020 first season harvests, which are expected at a good level. Declines were also registered in white maize prices, which were overall lower than a year earlier on account of good domestic availabilities.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 5, 10 June 2020
10/06/2020
Export prices of wheat dipped in May after an increase in April, pressured by a good supply outlook and a slow pace in trade. Prices of maize declined further on large export availabilities amid weak import demand. By contrast, international prices of rice increased for the fifth consecutive month. In East Africa, disruptions to food supply chains and stronger demand triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic continued to underpin sharp food price increases in May in Somalia, the Sudan and South Sudan. In Southern Africa, prices of maize declined in May with the arrival of the 2020 harvests, which are estimated to have recovered from last year’s reduced levels in several countries. In East Asia and South America, the slowdown in domestic buying and improved availabilities from the new harvests halted the sharp increases in the prices of rice of the past few months that were triggered by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 4, 12 May 2020
12/05/2020
Export prices of wheat increased in April due to strong international demand amid export control measures in the Black Sea region. International prices of rice also increased following temporary export restrictions and logistical bottlenecks in some exporting countries. By contrast, prices of maize plummeted on account of large global supplies and weaker demand for biofuel and animal feed. Disruptions to food supply chains and stronger demand triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic continued to underpin food price increases in April in several countries. In East Africa, in the Sudan and South Sudan, the upward pressure on prices of staple foods from the difficult macro-economic conditions and tight domestic availabilities was further exacerbated by trade and marketing disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Southern Africa, the start of the main season harvest led to an increase in market supplies and instigated seasonal price declines of maize grain in several countries in April. Prices, however, remained well above their year-earlier levels due to the effects of reduced harvests in the previous year.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 3, 10 April 2020
10/04/2020
Export prices of wheat and maize averaged lower in March than in February despite brisk trade activity amid worries over the COVID-19 pandemic as large global supplies and favourable production prospects continued to dominate market sentiment. By contrast, concerns over the pandemic and news of Viet Nam temporarily halting new export contracts, kept international prices of rice on the rise. An upsurge in food demand and disruptions to supply chains triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic underpinned food price increases in several countries in the second half of March. To counter over-pricing and ensure domestic availabilities during the pandemic, governments are adopting a variety of policy interventions. In Mexico and South Africa, prices of white maize rose significantly in March amid sharp currency depreciations largely driven by expectations of a COVID-19-induced economic downturn. In the Sudan, prices of staple foods soared to record highs in March following a further devaluation of the country’s currency as a result of acute foreign exchange shortages and a widening gap between the official and parallel exchange rates. Fuel shortages and a below‑average 2019 cereal output, coupled with high production and transportation costs, continued to exert an upward pressure on prices.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 2, 11 March 2020
11/03/2020
Export prices of wheat and maize generally declined in February amid well-supplied global markets and uncertainties about the impact of Coronavirus on global demand. By contrast, international prices of rice strengthened, on a combination of demand from Far Eastern and East African buyers and tight availabilities in some exporting countries. In Southern Africa, maize price increases eased reflecting improved prospects for the 2020 harvest, large import volumes and the effects of policies aimed at stabilizing prices. Prices, however, remained broadly higher, year on year, amid tight regional supplies. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains declined seasonally in most countries of the subregion in February as the recently completed second season harvests improved market supplies. By contrast, in the Sudan, prices continued to soar and reached record highs in February due to a below-average 2019 cereal output coupled with high production and transportation costs. In East Asia, prices of wheat flour in Pakistan declined from the record or near-record highs reached in January following Government measures and favourable production prospects for the about-to-start 2020 main season harvest.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin # 1, 12 February 2020
12/02/2020
Export prices of wheat and maize were mostly higher in January, mainly underpinned by a strong trade activity. International prices of rice edged up on easing harvest pressure and concerns over the potential impact of unfavourable weather on exporters’ outputs. In East Africa, prices of coarse grains in January persisted at relatively high levels across the subregion, due to an overall year-on-year reduction in the 2019 cereal output, further exacerbated by a difficult macro-economic situation in the Sudan and South Sudan. Heavy rains late last year, disrupting agricultural and marketing activities, contributed to sustaining the high level of prices in several countries. In Southern Africa, amid weak production prospects for the 2020 crops, prices of maize continued to increase underpinned by tight supplies and weak currencies, particularly in Zimbabwe.