GIEWS Update - Mongolia, 12 September 2017
12/09/2017
Due to a prolonged drought, the 2017 wheat output is estimated to drop by almost 50 percent from last year’s near-average output. Production of other food crops, such as potatoes, barley, oats and vegetables, also has been severely affected. Limited fodder availability and pasture access in drought-affected areas raises serious concerns for the livestock sector in the forthcoming winter months. Cereal import requirements in the 2017/18 marketing year forecast to rise sharply.
No. 26 Non-tariff measures in agriculture trade
05/09/2017
This brief analyses the impact that non-tariff measures (NTMs) have on agri-food products and the disciplines on NTMs in the multilateral trading system.
FAO Rice Market Monitor - December 2018
12/08/2017
The FAO Rice Market Monitor (RMM) provides an analysis of the most recent developments in the global rice market, including a short-term outlook. The RMM is a quarterly publication generally released in April, July, October and December. Presently, the full document is available only in English, but its Round-up is also available in Spanish and French.The December 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 #7, 10 August 2017
10/08/2017
International prices of wheat rose further in July on quality concerns, particularly for higher protein wheat, although upward pressure was limited by prospects of ample global supplies. Export prices of maize remained generally unchanged, while a slowdown in demand capped gains in rice quotations. In East Africa, prices of cereals in most countries declined significantly for the second consecutive month in July with the new harvests, but remained generally higher than a year earlier. However, in Ethiopia, prices of maize surged further and reached record levels, underpinned by uncertain prospects for the 2017 crops. In the CIS, prices of staple potatoes declined sharply from the record or near-record highs of June in most countries of the subregion with the beginning of the new harvest. Prices, however, remained higher than in July last year after the sharp increases of the past months.
No. 25 Evolution of import tariffs and the issue of tariff escalation
08/08/2017
This brief provides an overview of the evolution in bound and applied tariffs with a focus on tariff escalation.
GIEWS Special Alert No. 340 - The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, 20 July 2017
20/07/2017
Prolonged dry weather from April to late June in central and southern main cereal producing provinces raises serious concerns for the ongoing 2017 main cropping season. If rains do not improve in coming few weeks the 2017 cereal output may decrease significantly, deteriorating the already dire food insecurity. Immediate interventions are needed to safeguard the 2017 main season cereals.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the Syrian Arab Republic - 18 July 2017
18/07/2017
Crop production: Production of wheat and barley slightly improved in 2017 compared to previous year due better rainfall and improved access to agricultural land in some areas. Livestock: Over the past two years, the herd sizes have stabilized albeit at a very low level. Displacement: About two in five people are on the move inside the country.
GIEWS Special Alert No. 339 - East Africa, 14 July 2017
14/07/2017
Prevailing severe dry weather conditions, virtually since October 2016, have affected rangelands and crops in large parts of East Africa, causing a serious deterioration of food security conditions in the subregion. Major areas of concern are central and southern Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, northern and eastern Kenya, northern United Republic of Tanzania, and northeastern and southwestern Uganda. Localized Fall armyworm infestations are likely to further affect yields in the affected areas. Soaring prices of cereals are limiting food access for large numbers of poor households. The purchasing power of pastoral households in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia is severely constrained by plunging prices of livestock and rising prices of cereals. Recurrent climatic shocks have undermined household resilience. Urgent support to agricultural livelihoods is critically needed.
No. 24 Trade and Food Standards
11/07/2017
Trade and food standards. This brief emphasizes the importance of applying international food safety standards, and how these standards are applied in the context of WTO agreements based on the jointly prepared publication by FAO and WTO.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #6, 10 July 2017
10/07/2017
International wheat prices generally increased in June on quality concerns amid unfavourable growing conditions for the 2017 crops in some key producing countries. Export prices of maize remained generally unchanged, while rice quotations continued to increase mainly on account of strong demand. In East Africa, cereal prices either remain stable or declined in June with the new 2017 harvests, but remained at near-record levels in several countries. Prices increased sharply in the past several months, due to tight supplies because of drought-reduced 2016 second season crops and concerns about the overall performance of this year’s harvests following poor rains and crop pests. In Asia, sustained demand further underpinned domestic prices of rice in exporting countries in June. Elsewhere in the subregion, rice prices rose further and reached record highs in Bangladesh, reflecting losses incurred in the 2017 main season crop, coupled with reduced production and imports in 2016. In Sri Lanka, an anticipated reduction in the 2017 output continued to support prices of rice.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to Sri Lanka
22/06/2017
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited Sri Lanka from 12 to 29 March 2017 at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture to estimate the 2016/17 main maha paddy production, to forecast the ongoing 2017 secondary yala paddy production and to analyse household food security conditions. The request was prompted by a prolonged period of poor rainfall over most of the country throughout 2016 that raised serious concerns on production of paddy and other crops in 2017 as we ll as on livestock. The Mission assessed the impact of the dry weather on the 2017 main-crop harvest and estimated the expected food deficit for 2017. The Mission assessed the overall food-security situation and identified the main country’s agricultural support needs until the next main harvest.
Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Bulletin #5, 12 June 2017
12/06/2017
International wheat prices followed mixed trends in May, increasing in North America and the European Union due to unfavourable weather developments but down slightly in the Black Sea region and Argentina. Export prices of maize remained generally unchanged, while rice quotations were underpinned by strong demand. In Asia, rice prices rose sharply to record highs in Bangladesh, reflecting tighter supplies due to reduced production and imports in 2016, along with flood‑related damages to the 2017 main season crop. Rice price increases were also recorded in the main exporting countries, while they remained relatively stable elsewhere. In East Africa, cereal prices continued to rise in several countries in May, reaching record to near-record levels. Seasonal patterns were exacerbated by reduced supplies from the drought-affected 2016 second season outputs and by uncertain prospects for the upcoming 2017 harvests due to poor rains and crop pests. In West Africa, coarse grain prices increased seasonally in May and reached levels above those a year earlier, particularly in Niger, due to localized production shortfalls last year and reduced imports. In Nigeria, the substantial depreciation of the local currency continued to underpin food prices, with further support provided by high transport costs and insecurity.
Crop Prospects and Food Situation - Quarterly Global Report, No. 2, June 2017
08/06/2017
FAO estimates that 37 countries are in need of external assistance for food. Civil conflict continues to be a main driver of severe food insecurity, triggering famine in South Sudan and putting populations at high risk of localized famine in Yemen and northern Nigeria. Weather shocks, notably droughts, have also impinged on food availability and access, and have in particular compounded the fragile situation in Somalia where famine conditions continue to be a threat.
No. 20 Measuring the cost of dietary diversity
05/06/2017
This technical note describes a novel approach to measuring changes in the affordability of nutritious diets in low-income settings, using price indexes to monitor how trade policy or market infrastructure and other factors influence the cost of reaching a standard threshold of dietary diversity. We provide preliminary results for a new Cost of Diet Diversity (CoDD) price index in Ghana, contrasted with existing Cost of Nutrient Adequacy indexes as well as the standard Consumer Price Index concept for foods actually consumed, and world food price indexes for commodities that enter international trade.