Global food prices rose by 1.5% in September compared with the revised August figure, driven by higher prices for grains, vegetable oils, and sugar, according to the monthly report by the FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
The FAO Food Price Index stood at 136 points in September, 2 points (1.5%) higher than the revised August figure. The index was 5.8% higher than in September 2025 but 15.1% below the peak reached in March 2022.
The Cereal Price Index rose by 5.1% compared with August and by 17.2% compared with September 2025. On a monthly basis, global wheat prices rose by 6.3%, reaching their highest level since August 2023. However, the report notes that daily prices declined somewhat toward the end of the month.
“This increase was primarily driven by logistical challenges in the Black Sea region, which prompted importers to turn to alternative suppliers. Drought conditions in some parts of North America ahead of the winter wheat planting season were an additional factor driving price increases,” the document states.
Global corn prices rose 5.6% compared to August and reached their highest level in the past three years. This is due to a projected decline in supply caused by lower-than-expected yields in the U.S. and reduced export capacity in Brazil. “Trade disruptions in the Black Sea region have led to a reduction in corn export supply, while ongoing uncertainty regarding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fueled concerns about high costs for fuel, fertilizers, and freight. This exerted additional upward pressure on commodity prices, especially for biofuel production, particularly corn,” the report states.
The price index for all types of rice rose by 1.4% amid higher prices for long-grain rice (indica) due to concerns about weather conditions and a seasonal decline in supply.
The vegetable oil price index in September was 0.9% higher than in August and 18.3% higher year-over-year. The increase was primarily driven by rising global prices for palm oil, which fully offset the decline in sunflower oil prices. Sunflower oil prices fell for the third consecutive month amid forecasts of abundant supply in the Black Sea region; however, ongoing logistical difficulties and limited capacity on alternative export routes prevented prices from falling further, according to the report.
Soybean and canola oil prices remained virtually unchanged over the month.
The meat price index in September fell by 1.1% compared to the revised August figure and is in line with the level from a year ago. This was driven by weaker poultry and pork prices, while beef and lamb prices remained generally stable. Global poultry prices fell amid a significant volume of export supply from Brazil and weaker import demand from the EU. Pork prices declined amid substantial supply in major exporting countries. Australian beef export prices fell amid intensifying competition in the global market, while prices in Brazil rose as demand from the U.S. picked up. Lamb prices remained virtually unchanged.
The dairy price index in September was 0.1% lower than in August. On a year-over-year basis, prices fell by 19.1%.
“The decline in cheese prices was almost entirely offset by rising prices for dry milk, while butter prices remained virtually unchanged,” the report states. “Prices for nonfat dry milk were 33.1% higher than last year’s level, and prices for dry milk rose in all major exporting countries due to sustained import demand, particularly from Asian countries.”
The sugar price index in September was 6.1% higher than in August and 14.7% higher than in September 2025. The index has been rising for the third consecutive month and is at its highest level since April 2025.
The increase is primarily driven by the projected decline in global sugar supply during the 2026/27 agricultural season. In particular, it is expected that a reduction in planted acreage and unfavorable weather conditions during the growing season in the EU will lead to a decline in the sugar beet harvest. A decline in sugar production is forecast for Thailand, and the outlook for India is also less favorable. In addition, delays in the harvest in Brazil’s key sugarcane-growing region due to heavy rains have exerted additional upward pressure on global sugar prices.
The FAO Food Price Index is a weighted average that tracks changes in international prices for five major food commodity groups.
The Public Union UkrSadVinProm has begun recruiting Ukrainian companies to participate in the international food industry exhibition SIAL Paris 2026, which will take place on 17–21 October at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre in France.
Ukrainian producers of food products and beverages, fruit, vegetables, berries, nuts, processed products, and other representatives of the agri-food sector are invited to participate.
According to the association, participation in SIAL Paris gives Ukrainian companies an opportunity to present their products to international importers, distributors, and retail chains, hold negotiations on future contracts, and expand the geography of their exports.
A separate area of work for the Ukrainian delegation will be familiarisation with global food industry trends, including new product and packaging formats, changes in consumer preferences, and technological innovations.
UkrSadVinProm notes that companies that participated in SIAL Paris together with the association in previous years gained new business contacts, expanded the geography of their exports, and established international partnerships.
The official organiser of SIAL Paris confirms that the exhibition in 2026 will be held from 17 to 21 October. Around 295,000 professionals from 205 countries are expected to participate. The organisers also report around 5,000 key buyers with a combined purchasing power of more than EUR60 billion. Following the previous exhibition in 2024, 88% of exhibitors reported concluding contracts with partners from countries that were new to them.
Participation in such exhibitions remains one of the channels for Ukrainian food products to enter new markets, especially for companies planning to work not only with local importers but also with international retail chains, the HoReCa sector, and major distributors.
To obtain information about the participation terms, UkrSadVinProm invites companies to contact it at info@ukrsadvinprom.com.
The Public Union UkrSadVinProm is the Association of Horticulturists, Grape Growers and Winemakers of Ukraine. According to the organisation, it brings together around 200 producers of fruit, berries, nuts, and grapes, processing and winemaking enterprises, as well as scientific institutions. The association works to develop exports, introduce modern production, storage, and transportation technologies, and implement the GlobalG.A.P., ISO, and HACCP international standards. Products made by members of the association are exported to various markets around the world.
SIAL Paris is held once every two years and is one of the largest international B2B exhibitions in the food industry. Its participants include food and beverage producers, importers, distributors, retail chains, HoReCa representatives, buyers, technology companies, and start-ups. The 2026 exhibition will take place at Paris Nord Villepinte and will be open only to a professional audience.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages in Ukraine fell by 0.2% in July 2026 compared to June, but remained 6.5% more expensive than a year earlier. Food alone, excluding non-alcoholic beverages, rose in price by 6.4% over the year.
The most significant year-over-year increases among major food categories were recorded for fish and fish products (22.4%), sunflower oil (21.8%), and bread and bakery products (18.6%).
Bread prices rose by 15.4%, pasta by 9.9%, milk by 8%, vegetables by 7.8%, cheese by 4.6%, and meat and meat products by 2.4%.
At the same time, a number of products became significantly cheaper over the course of the year. Eggs cost 25.4% less than in July of last year, fruit—9.5% less, and sugar—8.1% less.
In July alone, eggs became 6% cheaper, vegetables 5.9% cheaper, and meat and meat products 0.6% cheaper. At the same time, fruit prices rose by 1.5%, fish by 1.3%, and sunflower oil by 1.2%.
Seasonal trends are particularly noticeable: since the beginning of the year, eggs have become 43.1% cheaper, while fruit has become 26.2% more expensive and vegetables 18.7% more expensive.
Ukraine exported $14.1 billion worth of food products in January–July 2026, according to data from the State Customs Service. Based on calculations using State Customs Service statistics, food products accounted for about 58.5% of Ukraine’s total merchandise exports, which amounted to $24.1 billion over the seven-month period.
Metals and metal products ranked second among export categories at $2.5 billion, or slightly more than 10% of total exports.
Machinery, equipment, and transportation vehicles were exported in the amount of $2.1 billion, corresponding to approximately 8.7% of total exports.
Thus, food products, metal products, and machinery collectively accounted for about 77.6% of Ukraine’s merchandise exports.
Poland remained the largest market for Ukrainian goods over the seven-month period, with $2.8 billion worth of products shipped there. Exports to Turkey totaled $2 billion, and to Germany—$1.5 billion.
Overall, Ukrainian exports in January–July 2026 grew by 3.8% compared to the same period last year—rising to $24.1 billion from $23.2 billion.
At the same time, imports grew much faster—by 26.6%, to $58.1 billion.
Ukraine exported $14.1 billion worth of food products in January–July 2026, according to data from the State Customs Service.
According to calculations by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on State Customs Service statistics, food products accounted for approximately 58.5% of Ukraine’s total merchandise exports, which amounted to $24.1 billion over the seven-month period.
Metals and metal products ranked second among export categories at $2.5 billion, or slightly more than 10% of total exports.
Exports of machinery, equipment and transport vehicles amounted to $2.1 billion, corresponding to approximately 8.7% of external shipments.
Thus, food, metal products and engineering products collectively accounted for approximately 77.6% of Ukraine’s merchandise exports.
Poland remained the largest market for Ukrainian goods over the seven-month period, receiving $2.8 billion worth of products. Exports to Türkiye amounted to $2 billion, while exports to Germany totalled $1.5 billion.
Overall, Ukrainian exports in January–July 2026 increased by 3.8% compared with the same period last year, rising to $24.1 billion from $23.2 billion.
At the same time, imports increased significantly faster, rising by 26.6% to $58.1 billion.
Demand for orders on the Glovo courier delivery service rose by 7.7% with the start of massive power outages in December, while on the Bolt Food online service it rose by about 6% compared to last year, the companies said in comments to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“In general, during periods of power outages, we see an increase in demand for delivery,” said Vyacheslav Levchenko, general manager of Bolt Food in Ukraine.
Glovo added that it is seeing a gradual increase in the average check, which has grown by 1.7% since last month and by 19.4% compared to the same period in 2025.
Bolt Food reported that the average check has increased by approximately UAH 60 compared to last year.
At the same time, according to Glovo, the share of orders from restaurants decreased by three percentage points (pp) compared to the period before the massive power outages and by 6 pp compared to last year, Instead, Ukrainians began to order more often from grocery stores, whose share increased by 2 p.p. compared to the period before the blackouts and by 5 p.p. year-on-year, Glovo commented.
Bolt Food noted that a significant share of demand is generated by large chain establishments and well-known brands, including McDonald’s, KFC, BUFET, Eurasia, Lviv Croissants, Domino’s Pizza, and others.
“This choice is due to their wide representation, brand recognition, and stable service quality,” the company added in a comment to the agency’s request.
In addition, Ukrainians have recently been increasingly choosing hot and hearty dishes, with soups, burgers, pizza, and shawarma being the most popular, Bolt Food noted.
In addition, the choice of dishes is also changing, with demand for burgers falling by 10-15%. However, orders for soups, set meals, and main dishes (such as wok noodles or poke) have increased approximately threefold. As for the pizza and sushi category, the situation has remained almost unchanged, but there has been a 1-2% increase, Glovo said.
“People have started to order hot and nutritious meals through Glovo much more often — meals that can replace a full lunch, which is not always possible to prepare at home right now,” the company emphasized.
Glovo also recorded an increase in demand for pet products by more than 50% and for meat products by more than 48%.
As for the demand for essential goods, the indicator grew by more than 36%, medicines — by 25%, and the share of demand for alcohol increased by 6%. At the same time, the demand for flowers and frozen goods decreased by an average of 10-15%.
It is noted that Kyiv and Odesa show dynamics identical to the national ones. In Lviv, Dnipro, and Vinnytsia, there is also a stable interest in ordering dinners and lunches, and the demand for these dishes has doubled.
At the same time, in Kharkiv, demand for “fast” meals such as shawarma, pizza, tacos, and chicken dishes, on the contrary, increased by 30-35%, while ready-made complex lunches in the city began to be ordered less frequently, Glovo added.
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