Global food prices rise for third straight month in April
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 8
Global food prices rise for third straight month in April
11 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 8
The UN FAO said its Food Price Index climbed 1.6%, with vegetable oil up 5.9% to its highest since July 2022 amid Iran war disruptions.
Wheat prices rose 0.8% and rice 1.9%, while the broader increase reflected supply-chain strain that could feed through to higher grocery costs.
Earlier data showed the index reached a three-year high in April and stood 2.5% above a year earlier, led by vegetable oils, meat and cereals.
With US cattle herds at a 75-year low, is the Iran war making beef a permanent luxury?
Why do US and UN reports clash on whether a grain surplus can stop soaring food prices?
Is the Iran war permanently breaking the 'just-in-time' global supply chain model?
Middle East Conflict and Energy Crisis Push Global Food Prices Up 2% Year-on-Year
Overview
In April 2026, global food prices hit their highest level in three years, driven mainly by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late 2025. This blockade disrupted about 30% of global fertilizer shipments and 27% of oil trade, causing energy prices to surge and transportation costs to rise. Farmers faced sharply higher fertilizer and fuel costs, leading many to reduce fertilizer use and shift crops, which strained production. Meanwhile, vegetable oil prices soared due to increased biofuel demand and rising crude oil prices. Combined with dryness in key US farming regions and ongoing geopolitical tensions, these factors intensified food market pressures, threatening food security and pushing millions into hunger.