Global food prices hit a nearly four-year high, Executive Digest reports, across main product groups monitored by the FAO, such as sugar, meat, oils, dairy products, and cereals.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Food Price Index, which tracks the evolution of a basket of food raw materials, reached 136 points, up from 134 in August, reaching the highest value since November 2022.

Sugar concern

Sugar’s price index rose 11.9 percent, reaching its highest level since June 2025. This has caused concerns regarding the global availability of sugar during the 2026/2027 season, as weather conditions are affecting production prospects in different regions.

In the EU, hot and dry weather has led to a downward revision of sugar beet productivity forecasts, and the planted area is already expected to decrease compared to the previous season.

El Niño, the natural climate pattern that causes the surface of the Pacific Ocean to become warmer than average, will continue to affect production prospects in some of the main Asian producing countries, according to the FAO.

Not limited to the EU

Lower sugar production in the Centre-South region of Brazil, which is one of the country's main producing areas, has also contributed to increased concerns of a limited global supply.

India's decision to allow imports of raw sugar without customs duties has also added pressure to international prices.

The combination of weather conditions, prospects of lower production, along with market disruptions, is putting pressure on food commodity prices, resulting in FAO's global index reaching a level which has not been seen since 2022.

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