Indicators
AMIS seeks to foster a better understanding of developments in global food markets. A central task in this regard is to monitor market and policy drivers that impact on global food prices and global food price volatility. Please access any of the indicator groups below by clicking on the respective icon. Improving and expanding the suite of indicators will be a continuous challenge. Data series will be added as they become available, and new research findings will guide the selection and interpretation of the indicators.
Prices and price volatility
Providing information on international commodity prices is key to AMIS’s mission of monitoring global food markets. International commodity prices might indicate changes in supply and demand in major producing and consuming countries, or signal policy actions, such as a tightening of trade measures or changes in governmental purchase and stocking regimes, which have proved to be important drivers of food prices and food price volatility at global level. View charts
Stocks and utilization
Low stock levels have had a large impact on price volatility during recent food price surges. Stocks can provide an effective temporary buffer against an unexpected supply or demand shock, so estimating and monitoring their size at global level, especially as regards expected utilization, helps determine market risk. The stock level of major exporters is a particularly important indicator of available supply in global markets. View charts
Energy and other indicators
Several factors impact on international commodity markets, including energy prices, the cost of fertilizer, and the dollar exchange rate. High energy prices, in particular, have been identified as one of the main causes of the agricultural price spike of 2008/09. The cost of fertilizer affects the agricultural production process and thus the price of commodities. And the dollar exchange rate defines a country's terms of trade. View charts