In December, FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and vegetable oils fell by, respectively, 2.2 and 9.6 points (or 1.5 and 5.6 percent), whereas the oilmeal index rebounded by 7.0 points (or 4.4 percent) to a 10-month high. While the oilseed and vegetable oil indices remained below the levels recorded in the corresponding month of the previous year, the oilmeal index posted a marginal gain over the previous year’s value.

Fuel shortages are reported in several areas in the country, triggering sharp price increases in the parallel market. Prices of most agricultural inputs surged in the last 12 months to more than twice their year-earlier levels. Availability and access constraints to fuel and agricultural inputs are mainly caused by the depreciation of the Sudanese Pound and dwindling foreign currency reserves that have affected imports. Despite the provision of fuel by...

This technical note explores the impact of trade on nutrition, addressing the role of trade in the “nutrition transition” and the extent to which trade policies affect nutritional objectives.

With agriculture accounting for roughly 70 percent of employment and 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in low-income countries, trade in agricultural products has the potential to significantly affect rural employment, incomes and poverty in these countries.

Below-average rains, coupled with high temperatures from mid-July until mid-August, a critical period for crops, affected 8 percent of the average area cultivated in the main season.

There is a high risk of contraction in the production of basic grain crops in Central America because of the intensified "heat wave" in July, affecting the flowering and grain-filling phases of the crops. The maize and bean crops grown for self-consumption are expected to be the most affected, mainly in the areas of the “Dry Corridor”. The extent to which the crops are affected highly depends on the...

Between 10 and 13 December 2017, Trade Ministers gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to participate in the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11). Following the conclusion of the meeting, this brief reports on its outcome, with particular reference to the negotiations on agriculture and fisheries.

Buoyed by rising export availabilities, dairy prices weakened in the second half of 2018. Milk production increased in key producing countries, including New Zealand in the 2018/19 production cycle. Aided by high production in some regions, global butter supplies improved in recent months, while cheese trade expanded in 2018 at a slow pace than in 2017. Trade in Skim Milk Powder (SMP) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) expanded on ample...

This brief discusses the application of voluntary sustainability standards in agriculture, fisheries and forestry trade.