World food prices rebounded in August after two consecutive months of decline, driven by sharply higher prices for sugar, wheat and vegetable oils, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said on Thursday. agriculture (FAO).
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The FAO food price index rose 3.1% from July, to 127.4 points and 32.9% year on year.
The indicator, which measures the monthly variation in international prices of a basket of basic food products, is once again approaching its record level (137.6 points), recorded in February 2011. The price of sugar has jumped by 9 , 6% over one month "
because of fears about the damage caused by frost on crops in Brazil
", the world's largest exporter of this product, explains the FAO in a
press
release.
This increase was mitigated by "
good production prospects in India and in the European Union
" in particular.
Oils, cereals, meats
The price of vegetable oils rose 6.7% in August over one month. Palm oil prices have thus "
returned to their highest historical levels under the effect of persistent fears about production below its potential and the levies on stocks resulting from this situation in Malaysia
", explains the FAO . Rapeseed oil and sunflower oil prices also rose.
The price of cereals increased overall by 3.4% over one month. World wheat prices notably jumped 8.8%, due to weaker crop prospects in several of the major exporting countries. In contrast, maize prices fell 0.9% as improved production prospects in Argentina, the European Union and Ukraine tempered the downward revision of production forecasts in Brazil and the United States. United.
Overall, the meat price index edged up in August.
Sheep and cattle meat prices were supported by large Chinese purchases.
The poultry market was affected by an increase in import demand from East Asia and the Middle East.
On the other hand, those of pigmeat decreased, with the continued decline in Chinese purchases and sluggish demand in Europe.
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Prices for dairy products fell slightly over one month.
"
The drop in international prices for powdered milk (...) has more than offset the increase in the prices of butter and cheese,
" notes the FAO.
