KEY MESSAGES

↗ International prices of wheat and maize fell in November, both influenced by the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Greater export competition and low demand for supplies from the United States of America contributed to the fall in wheat prices, while in the same country, improved logistics and higher seasonal availability also helped ease maize prices. By contrast, international rice prices moved up by another 2.3 percent in November, influenced by currency appreciations against the United States dollar in some Asian suppliers and good buying interest.

↗ According to FAO’s most recent analysis, domestic staple food prices sustained their year-on-year higher levels in November. In some regions, seasonal harvests and domestic policy interventions in favour of critical food and input markets abated the pressure on prices. Price transmission from global food and energy markets, amid widespread currency depreciation, continues to reinforce the upward trend of domestic prices and is expected to push the 2022 food import bills to record levels in many countries. Adverse weather events and market disruptions from conflict and civil unrest are other contributory factors to tight supply conditions and elevated domestic staple food prices.

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations