Record high global food import bill in 2025

The import value of food and agriculture commodities is marking a new record high and the second consecutive annual rise following a brief decline in 2023. Although international prices of staple food commodities like cereals are slightly lower, strong demand for higher value products, despite elevated prices, is driving this anticipated increase. However, patterns by income groups vary significantly: in absolute terms, growth in the global FIB is largely driven by high-income countries, fueled by soaring import costs for coffee and cocoa by nearly 35%. By contrast, the sharpest year on year percentage increase is foreseen in least-developed countries (LDCs), where expenditures on animal and vegetable oil imports are expected to rise by as much as 58 percent compared to 2024.

Fruit and Vegetables on the top of the inflation rise in high-income countries

Estimated import cost trends in 2025 vary significantly by income level. In nominal terms, high-income countries (HICs) account for over 80 percent, or USD 135.1 billion, of the expected increase in the global FIB, driven by steady demand and higher import costs for coffee, cocoa, fruits,

vegetables, and animal products. The remaining rise, about USD 18.8 billion, is accounted for mainly by the lower middle- income countries (LMICs), representing a 9 percent rise for this country group, led by higher import costs for fruit and vegetables, animal and vegetable oils, fats.

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