Over the year, world prices for basic foodstuffs rose by an average of 32%

October 8, Minsk. World prices for basic foodstuffs were 32% higher in September than in the same period last year. Such data are provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), according to the website of the UN News Center.

The average FAO Food Price Index for September is 1.2% higher than in August and 32.8% higher than in September 2020. The FAO said the trend was driven by shrinking export opportunities amid strong demand.

Wheat prices on world markets rose by almost 4% over the month and by 41% compared to the same period last year. Also in September, there was an increase in international prices for rice. At the same time, corn prices rose by only 0.3%.

Last month, vegetable oil also rose in price by 1.7% and by about 60% compared to September 2020. This is due to strong global import demand and a shortage of migrant workers, who play an important role in Malaysia's palm oil production, FAO said. International prices for this product have reached the highest level in the last ten years.

Milk and dairy products in September rose in price by 1.5% compared to August, and sugar - by 0.5%. At the same time, the cost of meat in September remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous month, but over the year, the increase in meat prices amounted to 26.3%. Mutton and beef rallied on tighter supply, while poultry and pork quotations declined, driven by higher global poultry supplies and weaker demand for pork in China and Europe.