The FAO Food Price Index increased for a 2nd straight month to 128.5 points in March 2026, the highest since September. Prices across all commodity groups rose, reflecting not only underlying market fundamentals but also responses to higher energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Vegetable oil prices jumped 5.1% to a fresh high since June 2022, driven by rising quotations across palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils. Sugar soared 7.2% mainly influenced by higher crude oil prices, raising expectations that Brazil, the world’s top sugar exporter, would rely more on sugarcane-based ethanol during the upcoming harvest. Cost for cereals went up 1.5% to hit the highest level since April 2025, reflecting higher quotations for all major cereals except rice. Also, dairy prices were up 1.2%, the first increase since July 2025, driven primarily by higher quotations for skim milk powder, butter, and whole milk powder. Meat increased 1% mainly driven by higher pig meat prices. source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Food Price Index in World increased to 128.50 Index Points in March from 125.50 Index Points in February of 2026. Food Price Index in World averaged 89.37 Index Points from 1990 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 160.20 Index Points in March of 2022 and a record low of 50.80 Index Points in May of 2002. This page includes a chart with historical data for World Food Price Index. World Food Price Index - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Components	Last	Previous	Unit	Reference
Cereals Price Index	110.40	108.70	Index Points	Mar 2026
Dairy Price Index	120.90	119.40	Index Points	Mar 2026
Meat Price Index	127.70	126.50	Index Points	Mar 2026
Oils Price Index	183.10	174.20	Index Points	Mar 2026
Sugar Price Index	92.40	86.20	Index Points	Mar 2026

Related	Last	Previous	Unit	Reference
FAO Food Price Index	128.50	125.50	Index Points	Mar 2026

World Food Price Index

The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over 2014-2016. The FFPI is calculated as the trade-weighted average of the prices of food commodities spanning the key agricultural markets for cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, meat and dairy products. While these commodities represent about 40 percent of gross agricultural food commodity trade (FAOSTAT), they are chosen for their high and strategic importance in global food security and trade.

	Actual	Previous	Highest	Lowest	Dates	Unit	Frequency
	128.50	125.50	160.20	50.80	1990 - 2026	Index Points	Monthly	2014-2016=100

News Stream

World Food Prices Rise as Energy Weighs

The FAO Food Price Index increased for a 2nd straight month to 128.5 points in March 2026, the highest since September. Prices across all commodity groups rose, reflecting not only underlying market fundamentals but also responses to higher energy prices linked to the conflict in the Middle East. Vegetable oil prices jumped 5.1% to a fresh high since June 2022, driven by rising quotations across palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils. Sugar soared 7.2% mainly influenced by higher crude oil prices, raising expectations that Brazil, the world’s top sugar exporter, would rely more on sugarcane-based ethanol during the upcoming harvest. Cost for cereals went up 1.5% to hit the highest level since April 2025, reflecting higher quotations for all major cereals except rice. Also, dairy prices were up 1.2%, the first increase since July 2025, driven primarily by higher quotations for skim milk powder, butter, and whole milk powder. Meat increased 1% mainly driven by higher pig meat prices.

2026-04-03

Global Food Prices Edge Higher in February

The FAO Food Price Index increased to 125.3 index points in February 2026, the highest in four months, from an upwardly revised 124.2 in January. Prices of cereals rose 1.1% to the highest level in nine months, with wheat prices up 1.8%, underpinned by reports of frosts and heightened winterkill risks in parts of Europe and the US. Logistical disruptions in Russia and continuing tensions in the Black Sea region also contributed to the increase. Meat cost increased 0.8%, largely driven by higher world bovine and ovine meat prices. Vegetable oil prices jumped 3.3% to hit the highest since June 2022, driven by palm, soy and rapeseed oils. On the other hand, sugar cost tumbled 4.1% to the lowest level since October 2020 amid expectations of ample global supplies in the current season. Dairy prices were down 1.2% to the lowest level since January 2024, amid a continued fall in cheese prices, particularly in the EU.

2026-03-06

World Food Prices Fall for 5th Month

The FAO Food Price Index slipped 0.4% to 123.9 points in January 2026, marking a fifth consecutive monthly decline and a fresh low level since August 2024. Sugar prices declined 1%, driven by expectations of increased global sugar supplies in the current season, largely underpinned by a significant production rebound anticipated in India and favourable prospects in Thailand. Also, dairy cost tumbled 5%, the seventh consecutive monthly decline, driven largely by lower world cheese and butter prices. Meat declined 0.4%, the lowest since May 2025, mainly reflecting lower pig meat prices, while quotations for bovine and ovine meats remained broadly stable. In contrast, cereal costs edged up 0.2%, reaching the highest since May 2025. Barley prices increased modestly and rice was up 1.8%, reflecting firmed demand while wheat prices declined 0.4%. Oil prices also jumped 2.1%, amid higher world prices of palm, soy and sunflower oils, which more than offset lower rapeseed oil quotations.

2026-02-06