The benchmark United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Vegetable Oil Price Index dropped by 4.6% in May compared to the previous month – the first monthly decline since the beginning of 2026.
The benchmark United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Vegetable Oil Price Index dropped by 4.6% in May compared to the previous month – the first monthly decline since the beginning of 2026.
The index illustrates changes in international prices of the 10 most important vegetable oils in world trade, weighted according to their export shares.
A drop of 9 points to average 185.0 points, the decline was mainly driven by lower prices of palm and soyabean oils, which more than offset increases in rapeseed and sunflower oil prices, the FAO said on 5 June.
“After rising for five consecutive months, international palm oil prices declined, reflecting expectations of weaker global import demand and uncertainty in crude oil markets,” the organisation said.
“World soyabean oil prices showed mixed trends, with seasonal increases in exportable supplies weighing on prices in South America, while firm biofuel demand supported values in the USA.”
Rapeseed oil prices rose on seasonally tightening supplies in the European Union (EU), while sunflower oil prices continued to increase, underpinned by persistent supply tightness, particularly in Ukraine.
