Rome: The benchmark measure for world food commodity prices rose in February, ending a five-month downward trend, as higher quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils, and several meat types outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices, according to the new update released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

According to Qatar News Agency, the FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 125.3 points in February. This marks an increase of 0.9 percent from its revised January level, although it remains 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier.

The FAO Cereal Price Index saw a rise of 1.1 percent from January, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices. This increase reflects reports of frosts in parts of Europe and the US, which have affected wheat production.

The FAO Meat Price Index also experienced an increase, rising by 0.8 percent. In contrast, the Dairy Price Index declined by 1.2 percent, primarily due to lower cheese prices.

Meanwhile, the FAO Sugar Price Index decreased by 4.1 percent from January and dropped by a significant 27.3 percent compared with February 2025. This decline is attributed to expectations of ample global sugar supplies in the current season.