Food prices fall a little, except for rice and sugar

After several months of increases, world food prices fell in October 2026. In its monthly report published Friday, November 6, the FAO reports a drop of 1.2% in its index compared to September. Over one year, prices remain up 5.9%.

The decline is particularly marked for cereals, whose index fell by 4.5% in one month. Weaker demand and better harvest prospects in Argentina weighed on wheat prices. Corn also fell, as yields exceeded forecasts in the United States. Prices of vegetable oils, meat and dairy products fell slightly.

Disrupted harvests for rice and sugar

Rice followed a different trajectory, rising 1.6% in October and 14% year-on-year. Harvest delays at several major exporters have slowed the arrival of rice on Asian markets. The FAO forecasts global production of 522 million tonnes this year, down 2.5%, which would mark the first decline in four seasons.