ROME, Italy (Reuters) — Global food prices plunged 19 percent last year following a fresh decline in December on the back of plentiful supplies and a slowing global economy.
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization said it was the fourth consecutive annual fall in food prices.
The FAO’s food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 154.1 points in December versus a revised 155.6 points the previous month, which was a fall of one percent.
“Abundant supplies in the face of a timid world demand and an appreciating dollar are the main reason for the general weakness that dominated food prices in 2015,” said FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian.
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December’s reading was dragged down by falling prices for meat, dairy and cereals, which counterbalanced gains in sugar and vegetable oil prices.
Expectations of high cereal supplies following the removal of export taxes in Argentina weighed on wheat prices, and corn prices fell as export competition intensified and international demand remained sluggish. Vegetable oil dropped to a nine-year low and dairy prices registered their lowest annual average since 2009.
