FAO: Dairy products, meat, and sugar see lower prices

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index averaged 123.9 points in January 2026, which is 0.5 points (0.4%) less than in December. The decline in the price indices of dairy products, meat, and sugar more than compensated for the increase in cereals and vegetable oils, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline in the index. The index is 0.8 points (0.6%) below its level a year ago and a full 36.4 points (22.7%) less than the peak reached in March 2022, according to FAO. For cereals, the FAO index reached an average of 107.5 points in January, a slight increase of 0.2 points (0.2%) compared to December, but still 4.4 points (3.9%) below the level of the previous year. World wheat prices were relatively stable in January, decreasing by only 0.4% compared to December. The upward pressure resulting from strong export sales in Australia and Canada, along with weather concerns affecting latent crops in the Russian Federation and the United States, was offset by the ...