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Summary
Our monthly Food Security Monitor is one-way AGRA makes data available to key stakeholders to underpin evidence-based decision-making. Highlights from the May 2025 Food Security Monitor are summarised below:
Food Commodity Prices Updates
In East Africa, Kenya's maize prices have surged to USD 510 per metric tonne, the highest among monitored commodities, largely due to reduced domestic supply and rising demand from animal feed millers. To ease supply pressure, the Government of Kenya has permitted the importation of 5.5 million bags of yellow maize with a 50% import duty waiver for animal feed, while also releasing 200,000 bags to millers to stabilise flour prices. Meanwhile, Ethiopia recorded the lowest maize price in East Africa at USD 281 per metric tonne, while Tanzania saw a 3% month-on-month decrease due to the approaching harvest season, although prices may rise soon amid Kenya’s crisis. Conversely, Uganda's maize price rose sharply by 15.17% month-on-month to USD 441 per metric tonne, driven by strong export demand from Kenya and South Sudan, making it the second highest priced maize in the region. These price fluctuations were primarily driven by stock shortages resulting from seasonal variations and heightened demand for maize in the region.
In Southern Africa, despite the arrival of newly harvested 2025 crops, maize prices in Malawi remain the highest in the region at USD 507 per metric tonne, due to depleted stocks from the previous season. Zambia follows with USD 324 per metric tonne, while Mozambique records the lowest maize prices at USD 206 per metric ton, reflecting a significant 54% decline in the past month due to increased supply from ongoing harvests. Zimbabwe has recorded the highest rice price in the region at USD 2,090 per metric tonne, driven by increased demand and supply constraints. Meanwhile, Malawi saw an 11% price drop from April, bringing rice prices to USD 2,037 per metric ton, due to improved supply from ongoing harvests. In contrast, Mozambique experienced a 15% price increase, with prices rising from USD 949 per metric tonne in April to USD 1,094 in May, reflecting broader regional economic dynamics influencing food costs.
In West Africa, Ghana has recorded the highest maize price in the region at USD 655 per metric ton, reflecting a 42% increase driven by the appreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi against the US dollar. Meanwhile, Nigeria reported the lowest maize price at USD 425 per metric ton, while Togo’s price remained stable. Similarly, Ghana saw the highest rice price, surging from USD 1,012 per metric ton to USD 1,472, marking a significant increase due to currency fluctuations. Nigeria again reported the lowest rice price at USD 761 per metric ton, mirroring the trend observed in maize prices. However, it is worth noting that the year-on-year increases in coarse grain prices in the region are underpinned by 2024 production shortfalls in several regions, elevated fuel prices that have driven up transport costs, and supply chain disruptions in conflict-affected areas.