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- International markets showed mixed trends in October, with maize prices rising 4.1 percent on record export demand, while rice prices remained 35 percent below last year's levels on continued high supply. Wheat prices declined slightly on record global production and stocks. Crude oil fell to $65/bbl amid accelerating oversupply. Fertilizer prices were mixed, with urea down 4.4 percent and ammonia up 8.9 percent.
- In West Africa, the main harvest improved market supplies and favored low seasonal cereal prices from September to October. Conflict-affected zones in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and eastern Chad continued to face high prices due to conflict and market disruptions. In Nigeria, easing inflation, stabilizing exchange rates, improved harvest availability, import waivers, and stock releases drove staple prices well below last year's and the average. In Cameroon, food prices remained significantly above the five-year average, with recent increases in urban centers following political unrest. Prices in the Sahel are expected to remain seasonally low before gradually rising in January.
- In East Africa, staple food prices were mixed in October. Prices were stable in Ethiopia and Rwanda, declining due to harvests in Tanzania, Kenya, and South Sudan, and increasing seasonally in Burundi and Somalia as the lean season intensified. Prices increased in conflict-affected areas in Sudan, particularly under siege conditions in South Kordofan and North Darfur. Prices remained volatile in localized areas of Sudan and South Sudan, where conflict and flooding disrupted markets. Livestock prices were stable or marginally increased due to reduced market supply caused by seasonal migrations and below-normal herd sizes following recent droughts.
- In Southern Africa, maize prices increased slightly in October as markets began monitoring the new season and carryover stocks. Old-season maize stocks remain high in South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania, keeping prices 20-30 percent below last year in these surplus-producing countries. However, Malawi's limited maize availability kept prices 53 percent above last year despite an atypical October decline. The Dar es Salaam port closure amid Tanzania's election unrest temporarily disrupted trade flows to Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Low fuel prices are supporting the agricultural sector during the critical planting season, while strong copper and gold prices are benefiting resource-exporting economies. La Niña conditions are expected through February 2026, bringing above-average rainfall.
- In Central America, staple grain supply improved seasonally following the primera harvest. White maize prices declined on average in El Salvador and Honduras, but remained 30 percent above the average. Black and red bean supply remained below average due to production deficits. Prices declined seasonally, supported by improvements in local supply from the primera harvest, but lingered above average due to recurrent production losses and declining crop areas. In Haiti, insecurity continued to affect market operations in urban areas, and Hurricane Melissa disrupted markets.
- In the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, staple food prices were mixed in October. In Afghanistan, prices remained broadly stable, supported by currency appreciation and steady imports. In Yemen, prices were stable in both IRG- and SBA-controlled areas. In Gaza, prices fell sharply in October but remained far above pre-crisis levels. In the West Bank, prices stayed largely stable, but movement restrictions and settler violence continue to hinder market access.
Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Global Price Watch November 30, 2025: November 2025 Price Watch, 2025.
Price Watch offers a monthly summary and outlook on global, regional and national trends of key commodity prices in FEWS NET countries. Analysis may touch on global issues, such as fuel prices or exchange rates, if they are likely to influence staple food prices in FEWS NET countries. The accompanying Price Watch Annex details price trends by country.