Sharp increase in prices of wheat, rice, and cotton

14:37 - 6.07.2026


July 6, Fineko/abc.az. In the 1st half of 2026, the commodity market saw sharp polarization in the prices of agricultural products. Against the backdrop of the war between the U.S./Israel and Iran, growing geopolitical risks, logistical challenges, and climate change have led to a sharp increase in the prices of some commodities and a decrease in the prices of others.

Commodities that have grown in price and decreased in price:

Rice and cotton: The sharpest increases were recorded for rice (+24%) and cotton (+19.5%). India's export restrictions reduced rice supply, while the US drought pushed cotton prices higher.

Wheat and soybeans: Wheat prices increased by 16.2% (peaking at $6.8825 per bushel in June 2024), while soybean prices rose by 9.2%. The reason was the rise in fuel and fertilizer prices, as well as the logistical crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.

Coffee, sugar and cocoa: Coffee fell by 15%, cocoa by 16.3%, and sugar by 1.3%. Expectations of a record coffee harvest in Brazil (up 14% year-on-year to 71.9 million bags) and increased exports from Vietnam have pushed down prices for these items.