The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that food prices increased by 2.4 per cent in June over May.
The FAO says it has re-evaluated all of its indices, shifting the base period to 2014-2016 instead of using 2002-2004.
Prices for vegetable oils, sugar and dairy products rebounded to multi-month highs after sharp declines in May, while cereals and meat indices, most prices remained under downward pressure.
The vegetable oil price index rose 11.3 percent in June, reversing four consecutive months of declines.
The sugar index rose 10.6 percent month-on-month, pushed up by reports of backlogs in Brazilian ports due to coronavirus containment efforts.
The dairy index climbed four percent but all its components remained below where they had been before the pandemic swept the world.
The cereal price index slipped 0.6 percent from May, with downward pressure on wheat prices intensifying last month, due partly to improved production prospects in a number of major exporting countries, especially in the Black Sea region.
By contrast maize prices were firmer in June, supported by some recovery in demand and adverse growing conditions in the United States, FAO said.
