Attachments
KEY MESSAGES
↗ Prices of all major cereals increased slightly in April 2025. In wheat and maize markets, tighter exportable supplies in some major exporting countries, currency fluctuations, and trade policy developments had offsetting effects on world prices. International rice prices increased slightly, driven by stronger demand for fragrant varieties and the easing of seasonal downward price pressure in Viet Nam.
↗ FAO’s analysis of domestic staple food prices for March–April 2025 highlights the continued impacts of extreme weather, prolonged conflicts, currency fluctuations and food-related policy measures.
↗ Maize prices declined across most of Southern Africa, reflecting expectations of supply recovery in 2025 after drought-affected harvests in 2024. By contrast, domestic production shortfalls fuelled maize price increases in parts of Central and South America. In Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, wheat flour prices remained generally stable, with moderate increases in Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Rice prices generally eased across Far East Asia, supported by favourable harvest prospects.
↗ In West and East Africa, coarse grain prices remained high, driven by localized production shortfalls, currency depreciation and conflict-related access constraints. In the Near East and North Africa region, despite recent signs of stabilization, subsidy reductions have kept wheat flour and bread prices elevated in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon.