Strong rebounds in global vegetable oil prices, as well as sugar and dairy prices, drove the FAO Food Price Index to its highest point in five years in December. The December Index rose by 4.4. percent from November, the third such consecutive monthly increase, and reached 181.7 points.

Despite this surge, however, the overall Index for 2019 only rose by 3.3 percent from 2018 levels and remained well below the record 230 points set in 2011.