Global grain markets remained broadly stable in February 2026, with maize prices showing mixed movements across exporters and wheat quotations rising on weather risks, logistical disruptions, and geopolitical tensions, despite overall comfortable global supplies. By contrast, sustained demand for Basmati and Japonica rice supported a modest increase in international rice prices. In the domestic markets monitored by FAO, staple food prices were generally stable or decreased month-on-month in January and February 2026. Exceptions were registered in the Central America, East Africa and Near East subregions, where prices followed mixed monthly movements, indicating different market conditions. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, continued currency depreciation kept cereal prices at record high levels, while in Pakistan, wheat prices remained close to their historical peak. In Somalia, coarse grain prices stayed exceptionally elevated following the near‑failure of the Deyr harvest. In South Sudan and the Sudan, persistent conflict and ongoing macroeconomic challenges continued to sustain abnormally high prices of coarse grains.
| Geographic coverage | Global |
| Originally published | 17 Mar 2026 |
| Related organisation(s) | FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| Knowledge service | Metadata | Global Food and Nutrition Security | Food crises and food and nutrition security |
| Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET) | price of agricultural producecerealsagricultural marketagricultural trade |