The FAO Food Price Index fell for the third consecutive month in June 2012, dipping 1.8 per cent from May to its lowest level since September 2010
The four-point drop in June brought the index to 201 points from a revised level of 205 points in May 2012.
The index now stands at 15.4 per cent below its peak in February 2011. The average prices of all commodity groups in the Index were below May levels, with the largest drop registered for oils and fats.
Continued economic uncertainties and generally adequate food supply prospects kept the index down although growing concerns over dry weather sent prices of some crops higher toward the end of the month.
Food commodity prices have started rising again recently, mostly because of adverse weather and this may result in a rebound of the Food Price Index in July.
FAO also lowered its forecast for 2012 world cereal production by more than 23 million tonnes from May, which is likely to result in a smaller build-up of global stocks by the end of seasons in 2013.
FAO’s new forecast for world cereal production in 2012 stands at 2 396 million tonnes, still a record level and 2 percent up from the previous high registered last year.
“FAO has been actively involved in studying food price volatility and identifying appropriate policy responses,” said Graziano da Silva. “Our analytical work is helping to deepen the understanding of the nature, causes and impacts of volatility and of what governments and other stakeholders can do about it.”
The FAO Food Price Index is a measure of the monthly change in average international prices of a basket of 55 food commodities.
