Key Messages
In West Africa, regional staple food production during the 2016/17 marketing year is expected to be similar to 2015/16 and well above average. International rice and wheat imports continue to support regional market supplies. Markets remained disrupted throughout the Lake Chad Basin and in parts of Central and Northern Mali. The recent depreciation of the Naira has led to price increases across Nigeria. High prices along with local policy measures created incentives for expanded grain production, but has also led to reduced purchasing power for Sahelian livestock and cash crops.
In East Africa, staple food prices were mixed, seasonally increasing or remaining stable in surplus-producing Uganda and Tanzania as the lean season started, while seasonally declining in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and Ethiopia with the start of harvests. Prices remain above average across the region, and are especially high in South Sudan. Markets remain disrupted by insecurity in Yemen.
In** Southern Africa**, regional maize availability is currently adequate, despite consecutive years of well-below average regional production. Maize prices are above their respective 2015 and five-year average levels region wide. Imports by South Africa and Zimbabwe from well-supplied international grain markets have offset a portion of the regional deficit, while maize export restrictions in Zambia remained in place. Prices remain high and variable in Mozambique, which is experiencing supply constraints and where other factors contribute to food trade and price dynamics.
In Central America, maize and bean supplies from the Primera harvest continued to supply markets across the region. Maize and bean prices seasonally declined or were stable. Hurricane Matthew destroyed crops and market infrastructure across much of southwestern Haiti. Market activities resumed in the major markets of Les Cayes and Jeremie, but varies considerably across smaller markets.
In Central Asia, average regional harvests and above-average stocks sustained adequate supplies. Prices are below 2015 levels in Kazakhstan and above-average in structurally-deficit Tajikistan. Prices continued to be near average in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
**International **staple food markets remain well supplied. Regional price indices reflect high prices in East Africa. Rice and soybean prices fell while wheat and maize prices stabilized in October. Crude oil prices remained well below-average.
