Data

Global commodity prices fell slightly in October, according to the latest FAO Food Price Index . Although prices remained higher at 176.4 points than their September levels, the Index is 27 percent below the all-time high seen in February 2011.

The Vegetable Oil Index fell by 1.8 points from September. Soy oil prices drove much of this decline, falling due to improved harvest prospects in the US and ample global supplies for 2017-2018.

The November edition of the FAO GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) bulletin was released last week. The report finds that global cereal markets continued to be mixed in October.

The benchmark US hard wheat price fell by almost 1 percent due to higher supply estimates and improved weather conditions in key producing regions; however, this price remains 11 percent higher than its October 2016 levels. Wheat prices in the Black Sea region and Argentina rose slightly due to strong export demand and excessive rainfall, respectively.

The October edition of the USDA's World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report Released monthly, this report provides data on global and US production and trade of staple commodities, including wheat, coarse grains, rice, and oilseeds.

With over 64 million people worldwide being displaced from their homes in 2016, understanding the links between conflict, migration, and food security has become even more crucial. Several recent reports have focused on this important topic, including the FAO’s The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report and a joint policy brief from FAO and IFPRI. An additional new related technical study from FAO provides further analysis and empirical evidence to complement the SOFI report and contributes to the debate on how conflict and food security impact one another.

The October edition of the FAO GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin finds mixed trends in international cereal prices. The global price of wheat rose by 6 percent in September, due in large part to weather-related concerns in the US, Australia, and Argentina. This places wheat prices 14 percent above their September 2016 levels; however, abundant global supplies and strong export competition have worked to limit the price increase.