Global food prices rose to their highest level in nearly four years in September, driven by disruptions to trade and transportation as well as growing concerns over weather conditions, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities, averaged 136.0 points in September, up 1.5 percent from a revised 134.0 points in August and 5.8 percent higher than a year earlier. It was the highest reading since November 2022.

Prices of cereals, sugar and vegetable oils increased during the month, offsetting declines in meat and dairy prices.

The FAO Cereal Price Index climbed 5.1 percent in September. Wheat prices rose 6.3 percent amid logistical constraints in the Black Sea region and dry weather in parts of North America, while maize prices increased 5.6 percent due to concerns over US yields, lower export availability from Brazil and disruptions to Black Sea trade.

Sugar prices recorded an even sharper rise, with the FAO Sugar Price Index increasing 6.1 percent from August. It was the third consecutive monthly increase, as adverse weather and strengthening El Niño conditions raised concerns over global supplies.

“Persistent and increasingly broad-based” pressure is building in global commodity markets as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea combine with climate shocks, FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero said.

He warned that if the pressures continue, they could eventually feed through to consumer food prices, particularly in countries dependent on food and energy imports.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index also rose 0.9 percent in September, mainly due to higher palm oil prices amid strong global demand and concerns over the impact of dry weather on production in Southeast Asia.

By contrast, the FAO Meat Price Index fell 1.1 percent, while the Dairy Price Index edged down 0.1 percent.

Despite the rise in food prices, the FAO expects global cereal production in 2026 to reach 2.979 billion tonnes. Although this would be 2.1 percent lower than the record harvest of 2025, it would still be the second-largest cereal harvest on record.

The agency, however, lowered its forecast for global cereal trade in the 2026/27 marketing year by 0.7 percent, largely because of weaker expectations for wheat and maize exports amid restrictions and logistical constraints affecting shipping through the Black Sea.

FAO also said strengthening El Niño conditions are adding uncertainty to production prospects, particularly for rice in South and Southeast Asia.