Middle East conflict pushes up energy costs, global food prices rise in March.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a report on April 3, stating that the global food price index rose by 2.4% in March 2026, marking the second consecutive month of increase. The main reason for this was the conflict in the Middle East which pushed up energy prices, thereby increasing agricultural production and transportation costs. The data shows that the food price index of the FAO in March was 128.5 points, a 1.0% increase compared to the same period last year. Among them, the prices of vegetable oil and sugar increased the most, by 5.1% and 7.2% respectively; grain prices rose by 1.5%, with wheat prices increasing by 4.3%; meat prices rose by 1%, while rice prices fell by 3%. The FAO stated that the rising prices of energy and fertilizers are pushing up agricultural input costs. If the conflicts continue, farmers may reduce the use of fertilizers, reduce planting areas, or switch to low-input crops, which will impact future food production and global food price trends.