UN Food Price Index Hits Near Four-Year High of 136.0 in September on Black Sea, El Nino Disruptions

World food prices climbed to a near four-year high in September, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on Oct. 2, as logistics disruptions and weather shocks squeezed global crop markets. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points, up from a revised 134.0 in August and the highest reading since November 2022. The sugar sub-index jumped 6.1% month-over-month to an 18-month high on El Nino-related supply fears, while cereals rose 5.1% as reduced U.S. corn yield prospects compounded Black Sea grain trade disruptions. Vegetable oil prices edged up 0.9%, and meat eased 1.1% on weaker EU poultry demand. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero warned that sustained pressure across energy, transport and food commodities would soon pass through to consumer prices, particularly in import-dependent countries. Separately, FAO held its 2026 global cereal production forecast near 2.979 billion metric tons, down 2.1% year-over-year, and cut its 2026/27 cereal trade outlook by 0.7%.