Global food prices rise, could hit South African consumers

By Charmaine Ndlela

Global food prices have risen for the first time in five months, driven by higher costs for meat, cereals and vegetable oils, according to the latest index released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 125.3 points in February.

This marks a 0.9% increase from its revised January level, although it remains 1.0% lower than a year earlier.

Wheat prices led the increase, rising by 1.8% amid concerns over frost in parts of Europe and the United States, ongoing tensions in the Black Sea region, and supply disruptions in Russia, the FAO said.

The organisation warned that global wheat production is forecast to decline by nearly 3% to 810 million tonnes in 2026.

The expected drop is linked to reduced planting in key producing regions, including