Negative impacts on international food markets arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to weigh on global food commodity prices, the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) latest Food Price Index showed. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 165.5 points in April 2020, down 5.7 points (3.4%) from March and the lowest since January 2019. The further decline in April marked the third consecutive monthly drop in the value of the index. Except the cereal sub0index, which declined only slightly, all the other sub-indices of the overall Food Price Index registered significant month-over-month declines in April, in particular the sugar sub-index.

The FAO Meat Price Index averaged 168.8 points in April, down 4.7 points (2.7%) from March, registering the fourth consecutive monthly decline. In April, international prices for all meat types represented in the index fell, as a partial recovery in import demand, mainly in China, was insufficient to balance a slump in imports from other countries caused by continued COVID-19-related economic hardship, logistical bottlenecks and a steep fall in demand from the foodservice sector due to lockdowns. Notwithstanding reduced levels of meat processing as labor shortages mounted, plummeting restaurant sales led to an increased stock buildup and export availabilities, which also weighed on meat prices.

The FAO Dairy Price Index averaged 196.2 points in April, down 7.3 points (3.6%) from March, registering the second consecutive month of decline and now down 18.8 points (8.8%) from its value in the corresponding month last year. Quotations for butter, skim milk powder and whole milk powder fell by more than 10% in April, reflecting increased export availabilities and mounting inventories amid weak import demand. With milk production in the Northern Hemisphere normally rising at this time of the year, diminished restaurant sales and reduced demand from food manufacturers also weighed on prices. By contrast, FAO reported cheese prices rebounded moderately on account of limited spot supplies from Oceania, where production is seasonally declining.

The FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 144.points in April, down 24.7 points (14.6%) from March, marking the second consecutive monthly decrease. FAO said the latest drop was mostly on the back of a collapse in international crude oil prices.

“Falling energy prices means that sugar mills divert more sugarcane for the production of sugar instead of ethanol, a substitute for gasoline, hence expanding sugar export availabilities,” FAO explained. “In addition, a contraction in sugar demand arising from the confinement measures imposed in a number of countries to contain the spread of COVID-19 spawned additional downward pressure on world sugar prices.”

The FAO Cereal Price Index averaged nearly 164.0 points in April, down only marginally from March but still up almost 4.0 points (2.4%) from April 2019. Among major cereals, international prices of wheat and rice rose significantly in April, but a sharp drop in maize prices kept the overall value of the FAO Cereal Price Index close to the previous month's level.

Wheat prices averaged 2.5% higher month over month, reflecting strong international demand amid reports of a quick fulfillment of the export quota from the Russian Federation, which was implemented in late March and is not expected to be adjustable until the end of the current marketing season on June 30. FAO reported that the imposition of temporary export restrictions and logistical bottlenecks in some suppliers fueled a 7.2% monthly increase in international rice prices, although increases were capped by the easing and eventual repeal of export limits -- namely in Vietnam -- towards the end of the month.

By contrast, international maize prices registered a third consecutive month of decline, pushing down the overall value of the coarse grains index by 10% from the previous month. Already large export availabilities, supplemented by newly harvested crops in South America amid weaker demand for animal feed and fuel ethanol, continued to put strong downward pressure on maize prices.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index averaged 131.8 points in April, shedding 7.2 points (5.2%) from last month and hitting its lowest level since August 2019. The third consecutive monthly decrease in the index mainly reflects falling palm, soy and rapeseed oil values, whereas sunflower oil prices strengthened, FAO said.

“The continued decline in palm oil prices was driven by the plunge in international crude oil quotations and sluggish global demand for palm oil in both the food and energy sectors because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the agency reported.

Higher-than-expected palm oil output in Malaysia added to the downward pressure on prices. Further, FAO said weakening demand also pushed down soybean and rapeseed oil prices, with soybean oil values also affected by higher-than-anticipated crushings in the U.S. By contrast, international sunflower oil prices rebounded in April, underpinned by firm import demand amid concerns over tightening exportable supplies.