Global food prices climbed in July on heat waves and energy costs

A basket of staple foods cost 1 percent more in July than a year earlier, according to data published Friday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, as heat waves and geopolitical uncertainty pushed up energy prices worldwide.

Sugar prices rose 5.6 percent on concerns that hot, dry weather could hurt crop yields in the European Union and El Nino-related conditions could affect producers in Asia. Cereal prices increased 3.4 percent from June, reversing earlier declines, to sit 6.9 percent above July 2025 levels. Wheat prices climbed 5.8 percent amid continued disruptions to Black Sea exports tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, compounded by expected heat damage to crops in several countries.

Maize prices rose 3.6 percent on worries over hot, dry weather in parts of the United States and spillover from firmer energy markets. Vegetable oil prices reached their highest level since June 2022, up 2 percent, driven by demand from Indonesia's biodiesel sector and higher crude oil prices. Soy oil rose on strong U.S. feedstock demand, while global sunflower and rapeseed oil prices fell.

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