Food prices at highest level in 5 years

The Food Price Index of the World Food Organization (FAO) touched its highest point in 2019 years in December 5. A signal that global food prices are on the rise. 

The index (the one based on commodity prices of meat, dairy, grains, oilseeds and sugar) has been rising for 3 months in a row, rising 4,4 points to 181.7 points in December. This is the highest monthly score in 5 years. 

The increase is the result of improving dairy, oilseeds and sugar prices in the previous month. Moreover, meat has been expensive for a long time. This is mainly due to the large shortages that have arisen in China, due to the outbreaks of African swine fever.  

Higher than in 2018
The average index figure for the whole of 2019 is 171.5 points. This is above the level of 2018, but slightly lower than the year before. The average index figure for 2019 is nowhere near the highest recorded figure ever: in 2011, the index recorded an average of 230 points. In that year, sugar was extremely expensive. 

Jorine Cosse

Editor at Boerenbusiness who studies the dairy, pig (meat) and feed markets. Jorine analyzes the roughage market on a weekly basis and periodically the compound feed market.

j.cosse@boerenbusiness. Nl

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