Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #11, 11 December 2017
11/12/2017
International prices of wheat and maize remained relatively stable in November, reflecting good supply conditions, while export quotations of rice strengthened amid increased buying interest and currency movements. In East Africa, prices of cereals in November continued to decline in most countries with the ongoing 2017 harvests and were at levels around or below those a year earlier with a few exceptions. By contrast, in the Sudan, prices surged and reached record highs in some markets, mainly underpinned by the sharp depreciation of the Sudanese Pound in the parallel market. In Central America, prices of white maize eased in November as market flows returned to normal, after disruption caused by severe rains in the previous month. Good domestic availabilities kept prices at levels below those a year earlier.
Crop Prospects and Food Situation - Quarterly Global Report, No. 4, December 2017
07/12/2017
FAO estimates that globally 37 countries are in need of external assistance for food. Persisting conflicts continue to be a key driver of severe food insecurity, with weather shocks intensifying the fragile conditions in some countries. Production shortfalls due to unfavourable weather have also adversely impacted food availability and access.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to Haiti
06/12/2017
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited the country from 2 to 26 August 2017 to estimate food production for the 2017 spring season, which goes from March to August, and assess the food security situation. The spring season represents some 60 percent of the annual cereal output and is very important in determining food availability and food security during the upcoming 2017/18 agricultural year. The Mission was comprised of staff from FAO, WFP and the Ministry of Agr iculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development of Haiti (MARNDR) which was represented by the National Coordination for Food Security of Haiti (CNSA) and the Agricultural Statistics and Informatics Unit (USAI). Staff from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) and the European Union’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) collaborated closely with the Mission as observers.
No. 29 The treatment of agriculture in Regional Trade Agreements
05/12/2017
A discussion on the growing importance of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and the trends in the treatment of agriculture in RTAs.
GIEWS Special Alert No. 341 - Somalia, 14 November 2017
14/11/2017
Severe dryness during the whole month of October in the main cereal-producing areas negatively impacted the establishment and development of “deyr” crops, expected to be harvested in January 2018. The dismal performance of the rainy season has exacerbated water and pasture shortages in pastoral areas, already affected by three consecutive poor rainy seasons. With an already dire food security situation, a continued and effective provision of livelihood support and food assistance is needed to prevent famine outcomes.
FAO Rice Market Monitor - October 2017
10/11/2017
The October 2017 issue of the FAO Rice Market Monitor (RMM) provides analysis and forecasts of world rice production, utilization, and global rice inventories in 2017/18 season. It also covers the outlook of world trade in rice in calendar year 2017 and 2018, as well as a review of international rice prices during the past quarter.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #10, 10 November 2017
10/11/2017
The benchmark US wheat price declined in October mostly because of higher supply prospects while maize quotations firmed due to rain-induced harvest delays. International rice prices strengthened in October, mainly reflecting seasonally tight Japonica and fragrant supplies. In East and West Africa, cereal prices declined in October with the 2017 ongoing or recently-started harvests. However, concerns over crop outputs and civil insecurity kept prices at high levels in some countries, particularly in Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Sudan. In Central America, heavy rains in October led to unseasonal increases in maize and bean prices. They remained, however, at levels well below those a year earlier as a result of adequate domestic supplies, following the overall good outputs in 2016 and the 2017 first season harvests.
FAO Rice Market Monitor - December 2017
10/11/2017
The October 2017 issue of the FAO Rice Market Monitor (RMM) provides analysis and forecasts of world rice production, utilization, and global rice inventories in 2017/18 season. It also covers the outlook of world trade in rice in calendar year 2017 and 2018, as well as a review of international rice prices during the past quarter.
No. 28 Trade in Fish and Fishery Products
07/11/2017
This brief discusses trade in fish and fishery products, in particular, trends in import and export, subsidies, tariff and non-tariff measures.
No. 27 Export restrictions in agriculture trade
10/10/2017
This brief explains and explores the rationale and options for strengthening disciplines on export restrictions.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #9, 10 October 2017
10/10/2017
International prices of wheat increased in September mostly because of weather-related concerns, while maize quotations fell further on crop harvest pressure. International rice prices remained generally firm, supported by seasonally tight availabilities of fragrant rice and strong demand for higher quality Indica supplies. In East Africa, prices of cereals remained at levels above those of a year earlier in most countries, particularly in Ethiopia reflecting seasonal tightness amid concerns over the impact of the Fall Armyworm infestation on the main harvest and in South Sudan mainly due to the ongoing conflict. In Asia, prices of rice in Bangladesh increased again in September and reached record highs, with seasonal patterns exacerbated by the reduced 2017 main season output and concerns over the impact of the July-August floods on the second season crop, to be harvested from November.
GIEWS Update - Bangladesh, 3 October 2017
03/10/2017
Severe floods in 2017 have affected at least 8 million people, causing deaths and injuries, loss of livestock and food supplies, and damage to housing and infrastructure. The floods caused severe damage to the agriculture sector, including crop losses of the main food staple rice, with most of the damage concentrated in the northern districts. Prices of rice, the country’s main staple, reached record levels in September, mostly reflecting flood-induced crop losses in 2017.
GIEWS Update - Ethiopia, 28 September 2017
28/09/2017
Prevailing severe dry weather conditions since October 2016 affected rangelands and crops in southeastern Ethiopia, resulting in serious deterioration of food security conditions. A major area of concern is the Somali Region, where an estimated 2.3 million people require emergency livelihood and food assistance. The critical food security situation reflects a sharply-reduced availability of food, pasture and water, particularly in southern and southeastern pastoral districts.
Crop Prospects and Food Situation - Quarterly Global Report, No. 3, September 2017
21/09/2017
FAO estimates that 37 countries are in need of external assistance for food in the world. Persisting conflicts have continued to acutely affect agricultural production and food security conditions. Weather shocks, including floods, hurricanes and droughts, have compounded the fragile conditions in some of the conflict-affected countries and also resulted in production shortfalls, adversely impacting food availability and access in other countries.
Trade and Food Standards
13/09/2017
This publication explains how international food safety standards are set through the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Food Standards Programme – the Codex Alimentarius Commission – and how these standards are applied in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).Through the FAO/WHO C odex Alimentarius, members establish science-based, internationally agreed food standards. The publication describes the two organizations, how they operate together, and how countries can and should engage to keep international food standards up to date and relevant, and to resolve trade issues. The publication also highlights the need to invest in domestic capacities to be prepared now and in the future to keep food safe and to ensure that trade flows smoothly. The publication also illustrates some of the drivers of change in the area of food regulation, underlining the need for governments to be constantly attentive and ready to pick up on challenges and new opportunities, be they related to human health, consumer preferences or evolutions in technology. Members will need strong institutions and national capacity to respond to these challenges, both domestically and in the dynamic international system of food standards and trade rules that they have created. They will need to be flexible and forward looking, to enjoy the benefits and manage the risks the future holds, mindful that food is a commodity like no other.
Review of agricultural trade policies in post-Soviet countries 2015-16
13/09/2017
The document is based on the publication “Review of Agricultural Trade Policies in former Soviet Union countries 2015-16” available in Russian. The main economic and political factors influencing the patterns of agrifood trade in the region during 2014 generally continued to have an impact in 2015 and 2016. In particular, a further slowdown in economic growth was observed in all countries during 2015. In addition, the depreciation of all the national currencies against the US dollar and the euro, which began in 2014, continued in 2015 and, in some cases, in 2016. Due to weaker national currencies and falling consumer demand, the total value of imports of agrifood products in dollar terms decreased in many countries. The decline in demand for agrifood products in the region and lower international prices also contributed to the reduction in the value of agrifood exports from the region. At the same time, the last two years have been marked by stronger integration processes affecting agrifood trade among several countries in the region.
Food Outlook - June 2017
13/09/2017
Global food commodity markets are broadly stable, supported by adequate supplies. Prospects for continued stability remain favourable also for 2016/17. Despite larger volumes of imports, the world food import bill is set to decline by 9 percent to a 7-year low in 2016, on expectation of lower international prices and freights.
Food Outlook - November 2017
13/09/2017
Global food commodity markets are broadly stable, supported by adequate supplies. Prospects for continued stability remain favourable also for 2016/17. Despite larger volumes of imports, the world food import bill is set to decline by 9 percent to a 7-year low in 2016, on expectation of lower international prices and freights.