Rice prices are climbing, a sign that the food inflation shock that threw millions into poverty is still reverberating, even as the cost of wheat and other farm commodities has declined. Thai rice, a benchmark for Asia, has soared to the highest in almost two years. Strong demand lies at the heart of the rally, with some importers buying more of the grain to replace wheat after the war in Ukraine disrupted supplies.
Rice prices will need to be "capped soon" or turn into another global headache for consumers and governments, said Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy, in emailed comments on Friday.