UN FAO Food Price Index Hits Nearly Four Year High in September

Turkey's Daily Sabah reported on Friday, 10 Mehr 1405 (October 2, 2026) that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said world food prices in September 2026 averaged 136.0 points on its Food Price Index, up from a revised 134.0 in August and the highest reading since November 2022, which FAO attributed to logistics disruptions, including in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, combined with concerns over the El Nino weather pattern.

FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero said a persistent, broad based build up in global commodity prices is underway, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea combine with climate shocks to pressure energy, transport and key food commodities. FAO's sugar price index rose 6.1 percent from August, a third straight monthly increase, while its cereal index rose 5.1 percent; the meat index eased 1.1 percent. FAO kept its 2026 global cereal production forecast nearly unchanged at 2.979 billion metric tons, 2.1 percent below last year's record and the second largest harvest on record, while cutting its 2026/27 world cereal trade forecast by 0.7 percent.