Page 26 - AWA Vol.42-No.1 issue

CROP PROTECTION

Benchmark of world food commodity prices averaged 4.3
percent higher across 2025 compared to 2024

The benchmark for world food commodity prices fell in percent from November to a six-month low, as declines in
December compared to the previous month, as declines in world prices of soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils more than
dairy product, meat and vegetable oil quotations more than offset increases in palm oil quotations. Across 2025, the In-
offset increases in those for cereals and sugar, the Food and dex averaged 17.1 percent higher than in 2024, marking a
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report- three-year high amid tight global supplies.
ed Friday.
The FAO Meat Price Index dipped by 1.3 percent from its
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly chang- revised November value but remained 3.4 percent above
es in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food its December 2024 value, with prices down across all meat
commodities, averaged 124.3 points in December, down 0.6 categories, particularly bovine and poultry. For the entire
percent from November and 2.3 percent from its level a year 2025, the Index averaged 5.1 percent above its 2024 level,
ago.
supported by strong global import demand and heightened
For the whole of 2025, the index averaged 127.2 points, market uncertainty linked to animal disease outbreaks and
4.3 percent higher than its average in 2024, as higher world geopolitical tensions. World bovine and ovine meat prices
prices for vegetable oils and dairy products outweighed de- increased, while those for pig and poultry meats declined.
clines in cereal and sugar quotations.
The FAO Cereal Price Index in December increased by 1.7 The FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 4.4 percent from
from November, buoyed by renewed concerns over Black November, led by a sharp drop in butter prices driven by
seasonally higher cream availability in Europe. For 2025, the
Sea wheat export flows, robust import demand for maize,
strong domestic ethanol production in both Brazil and the Index averaged 13.2 percent above its 2024 level, under-
United States of America, and higher prices across all rice pinned by strong global import demand and limited export-
market segments. For 2025 as a whole, the Cereal Price In- able supplies earlier in the year.
dex averaged 4.9 percent below its 2024 level, marking its The FAO Sugar Price Index rose by 2.4 percent from No-
third consecutive annual decline and the lowest annual av- vember, mainly due to a sharp drop in sugar production in
erage since 2020. The FAO All Rice Price Index averaged Brazil’s key southern growing regions, while remaining 24.0
35.2 percent below its 2024 level, reflecting ample export- percent below its December 2024 level. For 2025 as a whole,
able supplies, intense competition among exporters, and the Index averaged 17.0 percent below the previous year,
reduced purchases by some Asian importing countries. recording its lowest annual value since 2020, amid ample
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index in December fell by 0.2 export availabilities. Circle 26 on enquiry card
24 Vol. 42 No. 1