2026 10 2, Rome—The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the latest data on Friday, showing that in 2026 9, international food prices rose, with transport disruptions and weather concerns limiting supply and prices increasing across all crop commodity groups.
The FAO Food Price Index measures monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of food commodities. In 2026 9, the FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points, up 1.5% month on month and 5.8% year on year.
Global grain prices rise, meat prices fall
FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero said: “We are seeing a sustained and widening rise in global commodity prices. Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea region, together with climate shocks, are putting pressure on energy, transport and major food commodities. If these pressures persist, they will soon be passed on to consumers’ food bills, especially in countries that depend on imports of food and energy.”
The FAO Cereal Price Index9 rose 5.1% month on month and was 17.2% higher year on year. World wheat prices rose 6.3% from 8 month, mainly due to logistical constraints in the Black Sea region and drought conditions in parts of North America ahead of planting. Globalcorn pricespointsrose by 5.6% month on month, mainly due to lower-than-expected yields in the United States, reduced export supplies from Brazil, and trade disruptions in the Black Sea region. Ongoing uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz provided additional support for prices of commodities such as maize, which is used as a biofuel feedstock. The FAO Rice Price Index rose by 1.4%, as weather concerns and seasonally tighter supplies drove up quotations for indica rice.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose by 0.9% month on month in 9, mainly driven by higher international palm oil prices. Strong global import demand for palm oil, along with concerns about production prospects prompted by dry weather in Southeast Asia, pushed up international palm oil quotations.
The FAO Meat Price Index fell by 1.1% in 9, as ample exportable supplies of pork and poultry meat weighed on prices. Brazilian beef quotations rose, mainly supported by stronger US import demand; sheepmeat prices were largely stable.
The FAO Dairy Price Index fell slightly in 9 by 0.1%. The impact of lower cheese prices on the index was largely offset by higher quotations for milk powders, while butter prices were broadly stable.
The FAO Sugar Price Index rose month on month in 9 by 6.1%, mainly reflecting expectations of tighter global sugar supplies in 2026/27. Factors behind these expectations included a downward revision to Thailand’s sugar production forecast; concerns about crop prospects in India due to below-normal rainfall and the strengthening El Niño phenomenon; heavy rains in Brazil’s main producing regions in the Centre-South; and a reduction in the area planted with sugar beet in the European Union.
FAO calls for reducing food loss and waste
Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said on 29 that reducing food loss and waste can help transform agrifood systems, save natural resources and money, and ease pressure on forest conservation.
The seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste was held that day, with a related event jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at FAO headquarters in Rome.
According to FAO data, about 13.4% of the world’s food is lost after harvest and before reaching the retail stage, while a further 19% is wasted at the retail, food service and household consumption stages. An estimated 14 hundred million hectares of land worldwide are used to produce food that is never consumed. As agricultural expansion remains one of the main drivers of global deforestation, reducing food loss and waste can help improve the efficiency of existing agricultural land use and ease pressure on forests.
“To protect forests, we must transform agrifood systems; to transform agrifood systems, we must reduce food loss and waste. Reducing food loss and waste can help protect forests,” Qu Dongyu said.
FAO said that despite commitments made by the international community, little progress has been made in reducing global food loss since 2015. There is still a considerable gap between current efforts and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of halving per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030, while also reducing food losses along production and supply chains.
During the event, FAO also released an interactive data map of the Food Loss Index, showing estimated food loss data by region for 2024, to help stakeholders access relevant information and support the development of evidence-based policies to reduce food loss.
The FAO Food Price Index measures monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of food commodities. In 2026 9, the FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points, up 1.5% month on month and 5.8% year on year.
Global grain prices rise, meat prices fall
FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero said: “We are seeing a sustained and widening rise in global commodity prices. Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea region, together with climate shocks, are putting pressure on energy, transport and major food commodities. If these pressures persist, they will soon be passed on to consumers’ food bills, especially in countries that depend on imports of food and energy.”
The FAO Cereal Price Index9 rose 5.1% month on month and was 17.2% higher year on year. World wheat prices rose 6.3% from 8 month, mainly due to logistical constraints in the Black Sea region and drought conditions in parts of North America ahead of planting. Globalcorn pricespointsrose by 5.6% month on month, mainly due to lower-than-expected yields in the United States, reduced export supplies from Brazil, and trade disruptions in the Black Sea region. Ongoing uncertainty over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz provided additional support for prices of commodities such as maize, which is used as a biofuel feedstock. The FAO Rice Price Index rose by 1.4%, as weather concerns and seasonally tighter supplies drove up quotations for indica rice.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index rose by 0.9% month on month in 9, mainly driven by higher international palm oil prices. Strong global import demand for palm oil, along with concerns about production prospects prompted by dry weather in Southeast Asia, pushed up international palm oil quotations.
The FAO Meat Price Index fell by 1.1% in 9, as ample exportable supplies of pork and poultry meat weighed on prices. Brazilian beef quotations rose, mainly supported by stronger US import demand; sheepmeat prices were largely stable.
The FAO Dairy Price Index fell slightly in 9 by 0.1%. The impact of lower cheese prices on the index was largely offset by higher quotations for milk powders, while butter prices were broadly stable.
The FAO Sugar Price Index rose month on month in 9 by 6.1%, mainly reflecting expectations of tighter global sugar supplies in 2026/27. Factors behind these expectations included a downward revision to Thailand’s sugar production forecast; concerns about crop prospects in India due to below-normal rainfall and the strengthening El Niño phenomenon; heavy rains in Brazil’s main producing regions in the Centre-South; and a reduction in the area planted with sugar beet in the European Union.
FAO calls for reducing food loss and waste
Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said on 29 that reducing food loss and waste can help transform agrifood systems, save natural resources and money, and ease pressure on forest conservation.
The seventh International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste was held that day, with a related event jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at FAO headquarters in Rome.
According to FAO data, about 13.4% of the world’s food is lost after harvest and before reaching the retail stage, while a further 19% is wasted at the retail, food service and household consumption stages. An estimated 14 hundred million hectares of land worldwide are used to produce food that is never consumed. As agricultural expansion remains one of the main drivers of global deforestation, reducing food loss and waste can help improve the efficiency of existing agricultural land use and ease pressure on forests.
“To protect forests, we must transform agrifood systems; to transform agrifood systems, we must reduce food loss and waste. Reducing food loss and waste can help protect forests,” Qu Dongyu said.
FAO said that despite commitments made by the international community, little progress has been made in reducing global food loss since 2015. There is still a considerable gap between current efforts and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target of halving per capita food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030, while also reducing food losses along production and supply chains.
During the event, FAO also released an interactive data map of the Food Loss Index, showing estimated food loss data by region for 2024, to help stakeholders access relevant information and support the development of evidence-based policies to reduce food loss.