Even rising international food prices have to rise for 8 months

(Reporter Wang Jinyu, Li Shixiang) The reporter learned from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations this morning that global food prices continued to rise in February, setting a record of rising for eight consecutive months.

According to FAO, in February, all monitored food prices continued to rise except sugar prices. The FAO global food price index rose to 236 points, setting a new record. In addition, the sub-indices used to measure the five food categories all increased year-on-year.

Compared with January, the dairy product index rose by 4%, the meat food index rose by 2%, and the edible oil index rose to 279 points, just below the highest record in June 2008. The cereal price index rose by 3.7%, the highest since July 2008.

FAO reminds that last year the world faced rising grain demand but production fell, and the stocks of wheat and coarse grains are also falling. Since February last year, the export prices of major coarse grains have risen by at least 70%, so the price of international cereals this year may also rise sharply.

For the food market, FAO experts said that unexpected increases in oil prices will further worsen the food market. At present, as the main grain-producing areas have been planted one after another, rising oil prices have added uncertainties to the outlook for food prices.

FAO expects the winter wheat in the northern hemisphere to be more optimistic. It is expected that global wheat production will increase by 3% this year. This means that the wheat production in the main producing countries will recover.