PARIS, Feb 6 (Reuters): World food prices fell for a fifth straight month in January, led by declines in dairy, sugar and meat products, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.
The FAO's food price index, which tracks monthly changes in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 123.9 points in January, down 0.4 per cent from December and 0.6 per cent from a year earlier, the agency said.
The index was 22.7 per cent below its peak struck in March 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Dairy prices showed the largest drop among the main product groups, down 5 per cent month on month, driven by lower cheese and butter prices.
Meat prices slipped 0.4 per cent as lower pig meat prices outweighed increases in poultry prices.
Sugar prices fell 1 per cent from December and were 19.2 per cent lower than a year earlier, reflecting expectations of increased supplies.
Cereals and vegetable oils rose last month, however.
FAO's cereal index edged up by 0.2 per cent as stronger rice prices linked to firmer demand offset slightly weaker quotations for other major cereals.
The vegetable oil index climbed 2.1 per cent as higher palm, soy and sunflower oil prices outweighed lower rapeseed oil quotations.
In a separate report, the FAO raised its estimate on 2025 global cereal production to a record 3.023 billion metric tons, citing higher wheat yields and improved maize prospects.
It also said world cereal stocks were set to expand in the 2025/26 season, lifting the global stocks-to-use ratio to 31.8 per cent, its highest since 2001.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
