Food Outlook – Biannual Report on Global Food Markets: November 2021

Despite generally favourable supply prospects, international prices of most food commodities continue to remain high on robust trade with demand holding firm. Larger imports and soaring freight costs are expected to push up the world food import bill to over USD 1.75 trillion in 2021, a rise of 14 percent (USD 218 billion) from 2020 and 12 percent from the previous report in June.

This report provides supply and demand forecasts for basic foodstuffs, fish and fishery products along with price analysis and policy information. TheSpecial Feature examines the pathways and impacts of rapidly rising input prices, especially those of energy derived from fossil fuels, which can have detrimental effects on the global food economy in terms of their influence onfood prices and future price developments, as well as their likely consequences for global food security.

Food Outlook is published by the Markets and Trade Division of FAO as part of the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS). It is a biannual publication (November and June) focusing on developments in global food markets. Food Outlook maintains a close synergy with another major GIEWS publication, Crop Prospects and Food Situation, especially with regard to the coverage of cereals. Food Outlook is available in English. The summary section is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.