KEY MESSAGES
In West Africa, staple food markets were well-supplied in July, despite the slight delay in the start of the rainy season in some areas of the Sahel. Markets are generally functioning as they normally do during the lean season. Staple food prices were stable or declining, except in deficit areas of Niger and Chad. Record-high rice and wheat imports from international markets reinforced food availability in Senegal and Mauritania (Pages 3-6).
In East Africa, civil conflict, insecurity and seasonal deterioration of road conditions continued to disrupt both domestic and cross-border trade flows in northern and eastern South Sudan, southern Somalia, and in the Darfur and South Kordofan States in Sudan. Despite below-average local production earlier in 2014, staple food availability and prices have remained stable in Kenya due to the availability of ample imports from regional markets (Pages 6-9).
In Southern Africa, regional staple food availability is higher than in previous years. Harvests from the 2013/14 production year were well-above average in the region’s surplus producing countries. Staple food prices declined or remained stable during the post-harvest period and maize prices were generally below their respective 2013 levels (Pages 9-12).
In Haiti, staple food prices were stable due to adequate food availability from the local ongoing harvests and imports. In Central America, red bean prices increased atypically from December through July in Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador due to a below-average Primera harvest in some countries and increased regional demand. Local black bean and maize stock levels were likewise below average in many places. Local and imported rice prices remained stable throughout the region (Pages 13-14).
In Central Asia, wheat grain and flour availability was good region-wide in July. Prices were stable, but above their respective five-year average levels (Pages 15-16).
International rice prices remained were stable in July 2014 (Figure 2).
Maize and wheat prices declined due to positive supply outlooks for 2014/15. The probability of an El Nino occurring in 2014 continues to rise, and could affect global staple food production in late 2014 and early 2015. Crude oil prices were stable (Pages 2-3).
