ReliefWeb

Key Messages

• In West Africa, MY 2017/18 is in its last phase, the lean season, characterized by low levels of supplies and stocks, and high demand. Nonetheless, relief and price intervention efforts have assisted in maintaining stable prices. However staple prices will remain above average until new harvests. Markets remain disrupted in the Greater Lake Chad basin and northern and central Mali due to insecurity. Livestock prices have increased but remain below average in general.
• In East Africa, markets remain severely affected by insecurity and significant macro-economic challenges in Yemen, South Sudan, and Sudan disrupting market supplies and putting persistent upward pressure on prices. Staple food price declined across most markets in Somalia, Uganda, and Tanzania because of ongoing May-to-August harvests. Prices increased seasonably in most markets in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia as supplies tightened with the of the lean season.
• In Southern Africa, domestic maize availability remained adequate with above average supply levels for Zambia, South Africa and Tanzania. Maize prices were generally stable in key reference markets. Maize grain and maize meal were able to circulate between surplus and deficit areas without major trade restrictions within the region. Export parity prices remain competitive in South Africa, encouraging exports to international markets.
• In Central America, recent drought in the region led to lower than usual maize market flows between surplus and deficit areas. Maize and bean market supplies remain supported by the previous Postrera/Apante harvest. Maize prices increased atypically in El Salvador and Guatemala between June and July, while bean prices were seasonally stable in across the region but decreased in Nicaragua. Bean prices are below average. In Haiti, local maize and black bean prices were stable or decreasing in key reference markets as the printemps harvest concluded under generally favorable conditions. Imported rice and imported maize meal prices increased, and the Haitian gourde depreciated further against the USD.
• Central Asia sustained adequate supplies and intraregional trade is expected to fill local wheat deficits within the region. Kazakhstan and Pakistan are expected to have above-average upcoming wheat harvests while Afghanistan is expected to have below-average wheat production. Wheat prices remained stable and below-average in Kazakhstan, the region’s largest exporter.
• International staple food markets remain well supplied. Wheat prices were mixed, soybean prices were firm while rice and maize prices decreased. Crude oil prices fell, and global fertilizer prices increased.