Wheat, maize, sugar, cocoa: record price hikes. Which food prices are set to rise

Prices for staple foods are following a rapidly accelerating upward trend, and the signs suggest things could get worse. August already saw significant price increases across certain categories of agricultural products, and these rises will, in time, feed through to shop prices. Supply chains are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to armed conflicts and extreme weather events.

Which products have become more expensive and why

At a global level, August 2026 brought the largest increase in agricultural prices seen in 14 years. Markets are grappling with high costs for energy, transport, and fertilisers. The war is seriously disrupting exports from the Black Sea region, driving up wheat prices — other producing countries are offering wheat that is either of lower quality or at higher prices.

Maize crops have also been severely affected by drought. Sugar and cocoa are among the products that recorded the largest price increases in August, with both rising by approximately 20%. In the case of cocoa, the impact of drought is compounded by crop diseases.

The role of fertilisers and when we will feel the price rises

Another significant factor is the price of fertilisers, whose supply chains are dependent on tensions in the Middle East. Although raw materials have already become more expensive, the effect is not felt immediately in shops — the price increases will reach consumers towards the end of 2026 and into early 2027. Romanians can therefore expect to pay more for bread, dairy products, meat, and other staple foods that many older people use daily in their households.