# World food prices fall to two-year low in May – UN food agency Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-06-02 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: UN Food Agency Reports World Food Prices Hit Two-Year Low Meta Description: Discover how the United Nations FAO index plummeted in May to its lowest level in two years due to price drops in vegetable oils, cereals, and dairy. URL: https://financedigest.com/world-food-prices-fall-to-two-year-low-in-may-un-food-agencyhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2023-06-02t080553z1lynxmpej5106xrtroptp4egypt-economy-1736813938358-compressed.jpg) PARIS (Reuters) -The United Nations food agency’s world price index fell in May to its lowest in two years, as a slump in prices of vegetable oils, cereals and dairy outweighed increases for sugar and meat. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally-traded food commodities, averaged 124.3 points in May against a revised 127.7 for the previous month, the agency said on Friday. The April reading was originally given as 127.2. The May score marked the lowest since April 2021 and meant the index was now 22% below an all-time peak reached in March 2022 following the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. FAO’s cereal price index dropped by [nearly 5% in May from the prior month](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-holds-steady-near-four-month-high-on-opec-cuts.html "Oil holds steady near four-month high on OPEC+ cuts"), pressured by ample supply prospects and the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative allowing shipments from Ukraine. But international rice prices continued to increase in May, partly due to [tighter supplies](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-climbs-close-to-april-peak-on-tighter-supply.html "Oil climbs close to April peak on tighter supply") in some exporting countries, said FAO. The agency last month expressed concern over [rising prices](https://www.financedigest.com/doncaster-delights-investors-with-cultural-appeal-and-solid-property-price-rises.html "Doncaster delights investors with cultural appeal and solid property price rises") of the staple. FAO’s vegetable oil price index slid almost 9% month on month, reflecting large oilseed supplies and weak demand for palm oil, while [global dairy prices eased over 3% amid](https://www.financedigest.com/global-factories-struggle-for-momentum-amid-patchy-demand.html "Global factories struggle for momentum amid patchy demand") a seasonal upturn in northern hemisphere milk output, the agency said. [Sugar prices](https://www.financedigest.com/sugar-group-tereos-reports-leap-in-core-profit-as-prices-rise.html "Sugar group Tereos reports leap in core profit as prices rise"), in contrast, showed a 5.5% increase from April in a fourth straight monthly gain, as concerns over the El Nino weather pattern added to global supply risks, FAO said. However, improving weather conditions in Brazil and lower [crude oil](https://www.financedigest.com/omv-petrom-makes-largest-crude-oil-discovery-in-decades.html "OMV Petrom makes largest crude oil discovery in decades") prices have curbed sugar markets, it added. Sugar futures ended May lower after a 12-year high in late April. \[SOF/L\] In a separate report on cereals supply and demand, FAO forecast world cereal [production this year](https://www.financedigest.com/myfirmsapp-shortlisted-for-top-accountancy-practice-product-of-the-year.html "MyFirmsApp Shortlisted for Top Accountancy Practice Product of the Year") at 2.813 billion tonnes, a 1% increase from 2022 that mainly reflected an expected rise in maize output. Global cereal [stocks](https://www.financedigest.com/mutual-funds-vs-stocks-which-is-better.html "stocks") in the 2023/24 season were projected to rise 1.7% year on year to a record 873 million tonnes, reflecting larger expected stocks of maize, rice and barley. Wheat stocks were forecast to fall, however, as production was seen declining while demand was expected to be stable. (Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---