Driven largely by rising meat and vegetable oil costs, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations reported on Friday.

According to the FAO’s monthly Food Price Index, which tracks international prices of a basket of staple food commodities, the index rose to 130.1 points in July 2025, a 1.6% increase from June. This marks the highest level recorded since February 2023.

The rise was fueled by a sharp increase in the prices of meat and vegetable oils, which more than offset declines in cereals, dairy, and sugar. The FAO noted that supply constraints, seasonal demand, and shifting trade flows contributed to the rise in meat and oil prices.

Despite the recent spike, global food prices remain 18.8% lower than the record high of March 2022, which followed the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that disrupted major food and grain exports.