FAO: world food prices up 1.5% in September

World food commodity prices rose 1.5% in September compared to August, driven by weather concerns and transportation disruptions. This was announced by the FAO, reporting that in one year the price lists grew by 5.8%.

"Disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, combined with climate shocks, put pressure on energy, transport and essential food raw materials - says FAO chief economist Maximo Torero - if these pressures persist they will soon have repercussions on consumer food prices, especially in countries dependent on food and energy imports".

The Cereal Price Index increased by 5.1% compared to August, averaging 17.2% higher than the September 2025 level; particularly affected by the disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea. The prices of wheat recorded +6.3%, corn +5.6%, rice +1.4%. For vegetable oils the growth is 0.9% compared to August. The prices of pork and poultry meat fell by 1.1%, as did dairy products by 0.1%. The Sugar Index then rose by 6.1% compared to August, driven by expectations of a contraction in global sugar supplies in the 2026/27 season.

As for the 2026 forecasts for world cereal production, they drop by 2.1% compared to 2025, still remaining the second most abundant harvest ever recorded after last year. Cereal stocks at the end of the 2027 season will remain unchanged compared to opening levels, while trade will decrease by 3.5% compared to the record level of 2025/26. Wheat and corn exports are likely to fall more than expected due to restrictions on Black Sea shipping routes and insufficient alternative shipping capacity.