İRFAN DONAT
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced the food price index for May.
While the FAO Food Price Index decreased by 2.6 percent on a monthly basis in May, it decreased by 22.1 percent on an annual basis to an average of 124.3 points.
The decline in May was supported by significant decreases in vegetable oils, cereals and dairy price indices partially offset by increases in sugar and meat indices.
The FAO Grain Price Index fell 4.8 percent on a monthly basis, while it fell 25.3 percent on a year-on-year basis. Inter-country wheat prices fell 3.5 percent on a monthly basis due to the expectation of abundant global supply in the next 2023/24 period and the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. World corn prices decreased by 9.8 percent in May.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index fell 8.7 percent on a monthly basis in May, while it retreated 48.2 percent on an annual basis. The continued decline in the index reflects lower world prices for palm, soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils.
The FAO Dairy Artifacts Price Index declined by 3.2 percent on an annual basis in May, while it fell 17.7 percent on an annual basis. The decline in May was led by a sharp fall in interstate cheese prices amid abundant export opportunities, including stocks, amid seasonally high milk production in the northern hemisphere.
The FAO Meat Price Index, on the other hand, increased by 1.0 percent on a monthly basis to an average of 117.9 points in May and maintained its upward trend for four consecutive months. The index fell 4.1 percent year-on-year. International poultry prices rose further in May amid continued high import demand, particularly from Asia, and some alarms about potential short-term supply difficulties from widespread avian flu outbreaks. Global beef prices were limited.
FAO Sugar Price Index also increased by 5.5 percent on a monthly basis, reaching an average of 157.6 points in May, and witnessed a fourth consecutive monthly increase of 30.9 percent above its value a year ago. Rising concerns about how El Niño could affect 2023/24 crops and lower-than-expected global inventories in 2022/23 triggered a surge in international sugar prices in May.
Source: Bloomberg HT