A few days after the start of the Russian offensive, on February 24, the prices World food prices reached their “highest levels ever recorded” in March.
In 2022, the rate of prices of food, which follows the variation of the values international of a basket of basic products, was established at 143.7 average points, “that is, 14.3% more than the average value of 2021“The international organization said this Friday.
The previous record dated back to 2011, when there was a food crisis and famine riots in Africa, reaching an index of 131.9 points.
The invasion of Europe’s wheat barn has highlighted fragilities and dependencies, especially of poor countries, prompting fears of a new global food crisis.
The worst-case scenario, with “famine hurricanes” as feared by the UN, was averted thanks to the resumption of Ukrainian exports this summer, but the prices they will remain high in 2023, always in the midst of strong volatility.
“The prices world wheat and maize prices reached record levels” in 2022, the FAO stressed this Friday.
In the European market, wheat rose as high as 438 euros ($463) per tonne on May 16, after starting the year at 270 euros ($285). With always abnormal volatility, it stood at around 315 euros (333 dollars) at the end of December, which represents an increase of almost 17% in one year.
As Ukraine is also a major producer of sunflower oil, the average value of the index of prices of FAO vegetable oils also broke a record throughout the year.
The prices Meat and dairy products, meanwhile, reached “the highest annual levels since 1990,” according to the UN agency.
