{"id":17415,"date":"2026-10-02T21:46:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/02\/food-prices-climb-as-climate-pressures-mount\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T21:46:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T21:46:54","slug":"food-prices-climb-as-climate-pressures-mount","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/02\/food-prices-climb-as-climate-pressures-mount\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Prices Climb as Climate Pressures Mount"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Eliza By Eliza Galeana | Junior Journalist & Industry Analyst – Fri, 10\/02\/2026 – 12:50 \"Idioma\"\/ Leer en Espa\u00f1ol DIA assistant 1.0x \u2715 <\/p>\n

Global food prices rose 1.5% in September and 5.8% year over year, according to FAO, led by cereals and sugar. Black Sea trade disruptions, extreme weather, and a strengthening El Ni\u00f1o are expected to threaten supply through 2027. In Mexico, annual inflation reached 3.42% in the first half of September, driven by higher tomato, onion, and chicken prices. As a major importer of grains and oilseeds and an exporter of fresh produce, Mexico faces rising input and food costs, with climate-driven supply shocks increasingly affecting agribusinesses, food processors, and households.<\/em><\/p>\n

Global food prices rose for another month in September, led by cereals and sugar, as extreme weather, trade disruptions, and a strengthening El Ni\u00f1o put pressure on supply. In Mexico, rising tomato and onion prices pushed annual inflation to 3.42%.<\/p>\n

The FAO Food Price Index<\/a> averaged 136 points in September 2026, up 1.5% from the revised August level and 5.8% year over year. However, it remained 15.1% below the peak reached in March 2022. <\/p>\n

The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 5.1% from August and 17.2% from September 2025. Wheat prices increased 6.3%, reaching their highest level since August 2023, driven by logistical difficulties in the Black Sea region and dry weather in North America. Corn prices rose 5.6% to a more than three-year high, due to lower-than-expected yields in the United States, reduced export availability in Brazil and uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz over fuel, fertilizer and freight costs. Sorghum and barley prices rose 13.7% and 3.9%, respectively, while rice increased 1.4%.<\/p>\n

Vegetable oil prices rose 0.9% from August and 18.3% from a year earlier. The increase was mainly driven by palm oil, which rose for the fourth consecutive month due to strong import demand and dry weather in Southeast Asia. In contrast, sunflower oil prices fell for the third consecutive month amid abundant supplies from the Black Sea region, while soybean and rapeseed oil prices remained stable.<\/p>\n

Meat prices fell 1.1% from August and remained in line with their level a year earlier. The decline was driven by lower poultry prices, due to abundant supply from Brazil and new EU import requirements on antimicrobials, and by lower pork prices, due to higher supply among major exporters. Beef and sheep meat prices remained stable.<\/p>\n

The FAO Dairy Price Index fell 0.1% from August and stood 19.1% below its level a year earlier. Lower cheese prices, driven by weaker demand in the European Union and abundant supply from the United States, were almost offset by higher milk powder prices, supported by Asian demand. Butter prices remained virtually unchanged.<\/p>\n

Finally, sugar prices rose 6.1% from August and 14.7% from a year earlier, marking the third consecutive monthly increase and the highest level since April 2025. The rise reflects expectations of tighter global supply in 2026-27 due to lower sugar beet production in the European Union, an expected decline in Thailand, risks to harvests in India from El Ni\u00f1o and heavy rains that delayed harvesting in Brazil.<\/p>\n

In Mexico, INEGI's National Consumer Price Index (INPC)<\/a> rose 0.33% in the first half of September, bringing annual inflation to 3.42%. This represents an acceleration from 3.26% in the previous two-week period and the highest level since the first half of June. During this period, fruit and vegetable prices rose 3.38%. Among the food products with the largest increases and a significant impact on headline inflation were tomatoes, up 22.79%, onions, up 8.61%, and chicken, up 1.53%.<\/p>\n

Climate Change Turns Price Spikes Into Persistent Inflation <\/strong><\/p>\n

A new study shows that food is becoming more expensive as weather variations attributed to climate change turn temporary price spikes into a more persistent driver of inflation. An analysis by Zero Carbon Analytics<\/a> attributes food price spikes recorded between 2022 and 2026 to extreme weather events that it links to climate change. In 2026, the researchers found evidence linking price increases in various foods to unprecedented temperatures, droughts, or rainfall, meaning these events were more extreme than any similar case in the climate record.<\/p>\n

"Climate inflation represents a permanent increase in everyday living costs, driven by dependence on fossil fuels and the destruction caused by extreme weather events, which creates persistent inflation that puts pressure on household budgets around the world," said Joanne Bentley-McKune, Climate Scientist and Report Author, Zero Carbon Analytics.<\/p>\n

Overall, 2026 has been a difficult year for agricultural producers worldwide. In addition to geopolitical tensions that have disrupted key trade corridors and driven up input costs, extreme weather events have devastated harvests and have already begun to threaten the planting season for next year's crop, the report notes.<\/p>\n

"Even countries that are self-sufficient in staple products could be affected by inflation as local yields decline and El Ni\u00f1o disrupts global production and market prices," reads the study.<\/p>\n

The researchers measured these price increases using a method developed by researchers at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and the European Central Bank. The report cites an independent analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), which argues that sudden price increases, even in a small number of foods, can be enough to drive headline inflation. The researchers found that a small group of foods, including butter, beef, milk, coffee, and chocolate, accounted for 30% to 40% of food price inflation in the United Kingdom, for example.<\/p>\n

Extreme weather is also disrupting the production and availability of staple foods for a healthy diet, such as fruits, vegetables and proteins, as opposed to processed, calorie-dense foods. This means that climate disruptions threaten the quality, variety, and nutritional value of people's diets, according to Zero Carbon Analytics.<\/p>\n

By 2035, global warming is expected to add up to 3.23 percentage points per year to food inflation and 1.18 percentage points to headline inflation, which many countries aim to keep around 2%. However, persistent supply shocks driven by climate change are forcing a rethink of traditional economic policy. "Interest rate hikes cannot fix declining harvests or protect vulnerable households," the analysts concluded.<\/p>\n

El Ni\u00f1o Adds Pressure on Latin American Food Prices <\/strong><\/p>\n

Adding to these concerns, El Ni\u00f1o, which official forecasts expect to be particularly severe toward the end of the year, is one of the main risks to global food supply through 2027. <\/p>\n

Goldman Sachs<\/a> warns that lower agricultural supply could pass through to consumer prices, with a greater impact on households that spend a large share of their income on food. The investment bank estimated that food inflation could rise up to 1.4% above its usual levels in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. The estimate was released during the 2023-2024 El Ni\u00f1o cycle, a period that combined droughts, heavy rainfall, flooding and high temperatures across different parts of the region.<\/p>\n

For Mexico, the effects of El Ni\u00f1o could be felt even if the main production problems occur abroad. Eduardo Corella, CEO, El Agroanalista<\/a>, notes that Mexico sits on both sides of the market, as a major exporter of fruits, vegetables and beverages and a heavy importer of grains and oilseeds. A difficult season elsewhere could raise import costs, while lower production in other regions could open opportunities for Mexican exporters. "What matters, then, is not only where problems emerge, but also who manages to keep producing while others begin to struggle," he says.<\/p>\n

You May Like<\/h2>\n

\"Food<\/a> Food Prices Climb as Climate Pressures Mount<\/a> \"Trade<\/a> Trade Growth, Inflation Pressures and Food Security Efforts <\/a> \"Tomato<\/a> Tomato Prices Stabilize Below MX$20\/kg in Mexico <\/a> \"Mexico<\/a> Mexico Among OECD\u2019s Highest Food Inflation<\/a> \"Mexico<\/a> Mexico Agrifood Week: Inflation, Logistics and Climate Risks<\/a> \"Tomato,<\/a> Tomato, Potato Prices Drive Up Mexico\u2019s Food Costs<\/a> \"Meat<\/a> Meat Exports Rise as Tomato Prices Come Under Focus<\/a> \"Food<\/a> Food Inflation, Corn Support and Export Diversification<\/a> \t \t \t\t\t \t \t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t \t \t\t \t\t \t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t \t\t \t\t\t \t\t\t \t\t \t\t \t\t\t<\/p>\n

Most popular<\/h2>\n

\t\t\t 1 Policy & Economy Mexico Beats Doups at ICSID, Taps Korea Credit: The Week in Trade<\/a> \"mining\"\/ <\/a> 2 Finance & Fintech Coppel Secures ESG Credit; Mexico, South Korea Target Credit Line<\/a> \"The <\/a> 3 Automotive Mexico Nears US Deal to Cut Auto, Steel and Aluminum Tariffs<\/a> \"Mexico <\/a> 4 Agribusiness & Food Mexico's Corn Deficit Deepens, Ties With South Korea Strengthen<\/a> \"The <\/a> 5 Tech CNA Approves OXIO\u2019s Acquisition of Telef\u00f3nica Mexico<\/a> \"Tech\"\/ <\/a> 6 Finance & Fintech US Ambassador Warns Mexico Banks on Cartel Financing<\/a> \"Ronald <\/a> 7 Mining AHMSA Nears New Owner, Asia Gains US Steel: The Week in Mining<\/a> \"copper\"\/ <\/a> \t\t \t\t \t\t \t\t <\/p>\n

\"Newsletter\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Eliza Galeana | Junior Journalist & Industry Analyst – Fri, 10\/02\/2026 – 12:50 Leer en Espa\u00f1ol DIA assistant 1.0x \u2715 Global food prices rose 1.5% in September and 5.8% year over year, according to FAO, led by cereals and sugar. Black Sea trade disruptions, extreme weather, and a strengthening El Ni\u00f1o are expected to threaten supply through 2027. In Mexico, annual inflation reached 3.42% in the first half of September, driven by higher tomato, onion, and chicken prices. As a major importer of grains and oilseeds and an exporter of fresh produce, Mexico faces rising input and food costs, with climate-driven supply shocks increasingly affecting agribusinesses, food processors, and households.
\nGlobal food prices rose for another month in September, led by cereals and sugar, as extreme weather, trade disruptions, and a strengthening El Ni\u00f1o put pressure on supply. In Mexico, rising tomato and onion prices pushed annual inflation to 3.42%.
\nThe FAO Food Price Index averaged 136 points in Se..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,1,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tie-business","category-local","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17415"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17440,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17415\/revisions\/17440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/berlinnews24.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}