Global food commodity markets are broadly stable, supported by adequate supplies. Prospects for continued stability remain favourable also for 2016/17. Despite larger volumes of imports, the world food import bill is set to decline by 9 percent to a 7-year low in 2016, on expectation of lower international prices and freights.

International prices of wheat dipped in August, after increasing in the past few months, following an upturn in production prospects in the Black Sea region which improved the 2017 global supply outlook. Maize quotations also fell on improved weather conditions and abundant global supplies. International prices of rice were relatively stable, although price movements were mixed across the different rice market segments. In East Africa, prices of cereals generally continued...

Due to a prolonged drought, the 2017 wheat output is estimated to drop by almost 50 percent from last year’s near-average output. Production of other food crops, such as potatoes, barley, oats and vegetables, also has been severely affected. Limited fodder availability and pasture access in drought-affected areas raises serious concerns for the livestock sector in the forthcoming winter months. Cereal import requirements in the 2017/18 marketing year forecast to...

This brief analyses the impact that non-tariff measures (NTMs) have on agri-food products and the disciplines on NTMs in the multilateral trading system.

The FAO Rice Market Monitor (RMM) provides an analysis of the most recent developments in the global rice market, including a short-term outlook. The RMM is a quarterly publication generally released in April, July, October and December. Presently, the full document is available only in English, but its Round-up is also available in Spanish and French.The December 2017 issue of the FAO Rice Market Monitor (RMM) provides analysis and forecasts...

International prices of wheat rose further in July on quality concerns, particularly for higher protein wheat, although upward pressure was limited by prospects of ample global supplies. Export prices of maize remained generally unchanged, while a slowdown in demand capped gains in rice quotations. In East Africa, prices of cereals in most countries declined significantly for the second consecutive month in July with the new harvests, but remained generally higher...