Poor countries, favored by falling prices but worried about the strength of the dollar – 06/11/2018



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(EFE) Falling international food prices could drive down imports of these products in the poorest countries, said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The agency provides that Food purchases worldwide total $ 1,467 billion (EUR 1,286 billion) in 2018, 3% more than the previous year.

In a new report, FAO says falling international prices for coffee, tea, cocoa and sugar reduces import costs, although transportation costs increase. In addition, cheaper sugar offsets the higher cost of importing vegetables and grains into the world's poorest food deficit countries.

With abundant food production and reserves, international prices are under controlAccording to the FAO, other factors can increase uncertainty, such as weather conditions, trade policies and exchange rates, for example. The strengthening of the dollar is in fact a "matter of serious concern" in the least developed countriesbecause they have reduced their purchasing power in world markets, dominated by the American currency.

Cocoa is one of the commodities with plentiful reserves and low prices.
(AP Photo / Ariana Cubillos)

Cocoa is one of the commodities with plentiful reserves and low prices.
(AP Photo / Ariana Cubillos)

Last year, almost all poor countries that import food for more than $ 1 billion a year saw the value of their currency decline against the dollar, which offset the savings achieved through at the fall of international prices.

The report focuses on cassava markets, whose global production is expected to reach 277 million tonnes in 2018, a slow increase of 0.5% per year, unlike the previous two decades of rapid expansion. This slowdown is mainly due to the uncertainty in Southeast Asia, particularly among small producers exporting to China, a country immersed in a change of model, sells large corn reserves, the main competitor of cassava in the production of energy and fodder.

Meanwhile, coffee prices are currently 45% lower than in 2011, a prolonged drop due to excess supply worries exporting countries and about 25 million small farmers, responsible for 80% of their production. World. .

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