13/02/2025 (Oils and Fats International) - The benchmark United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Vegetable Oil Price Index dropped by 5.6% in January compared to the previous month.

The index illustrates changes in international prices of the 10 most important vegetable oils in world trade, weighted according to their export shares.

Although reversing a recent increase, the vegetable oil price index remained 24.9% higher than a year earlier, the FAO said on 7 February.

The decline in January was mainly driven by lower world prices of palm and rapeseed oils, while those for soyabean and sunflower oils remained stable, the organisation said.

“After rising for seven consecutive months, international palm oil prices declined from multi-year highs, largely due to demand rationing, while rapeseed oil prices contracted moderately in early 2025,” the FAO said.

“By contrast, soyabean and sunflower oil quotations stayed steady; they were supported, respectively, by concerns over unfavourable weather in parts of South American soyabean-producing countries and robust global import demand.”

https://www.ofimagazine.com/news/fao-vegetable-oil-price-index-falls-5-6-in-january