What's New

The latest edition of the GIEWS Global Food Price Monitor reports that international cereals export prices remained stable in October. While wheat prices experienced some upward pressure due to trends in Australia and Ukraine, this was offset by favorable planting conditions for US winter wheat. Similarly, rice prices remained stable, falling only 1 percent from September. Maize prices also fell marginally based on slowing trade activity and progress of the US harvest.

In its latest Monthly Food Price Watch, FEWS NET reports that global rice production for 2012/2013 is expected to be the highest on record. Global soybean production prospects also improved with a 10 percent increase for 2012/2013; however, strong global demand is expected to keep soybean and soybean oil prices high. While global wheat prices remain high, production is only expected to decline by six percent. However, trade policies in key wheat exporting countries could exert further pressure on prices.

FEWS NET has released its April Food Price Watch, citing stable prices throughout much of Africa and Central America. The Sahel region saw relatively stable cereals prices due to food assistance interventions and successful transport from surplus areas. In East Africa, staple prices remained generally stable, though high; some areas in this region saw seasonal increases.

Read the full report.
Read the Annex.

GIEWS has released crop prospect reports for maize for both Argentina and Mexico, citing deteriorating 2012 crop prospects due to recent dry weather. Despite this reduction, production in Argentina is still expected to be average. Mexican production is expected to be below the five-year average but still higher than the poor 2011 crop.

Download the report for Argentina .

Download the report for Mexico

FEWS NET has released the Global Price Watch for November 2011, citing a slight decline in global wheat and maize prices. On the other hand, global rice prices increased slightly due to a decline in Thai exports and floods in Southeast Asia.

Prices in East Asia fell in some surplus-producing areas, as well as areas in the Horn of Africa that continue to receive significant international assistance. Grain supplies are constrained in West Africa due to delayed harvests; this constrain has delayed the seasonal price decreases in that reason.