11 January 2011

2011- n° 102274n°246

In December 2010, The prices of the imported commodities have accelerated Prices of oil and raw material imports - December 2010

In December, the price of oil in dollars accelerated (+7.1% after +3.1% in November), reaching $91.3 per barrel of Brent. It was the same for the foreign currency prices for non-energy commodities imported in France (+3.7% after +2.3% in November).

In December, the prices in dollars of oil from the North Sea (Brent) accelerated (+7.1% after 3.1%). The increase in demand, with the harsh winter in the northern hemisphere, supported the increase in the price of oil. In euros, the rise in oil prices was even higher (+10.5%), due to the depreciation of the euro vis-à-vis the dollar (-3.1 %).

In December, the prices of industrial raw materials in foreign currencies have again increased (+2.9% after +1.7%). The prices of the mineral raw materials rose again (+2.7%) after stagnating in November, reflecting the rebound in the prices of nonferrous metals (+3.0% after -0.2%), in particularly cooper (+7.9%) and nickel (+5.2%). In contrast, the prices of precious metals have somewhat slowed (+4.2% after +4.9%), including palladium (+10.9% after +14.4%) and silver (+10.7% after +13.3%).

The increase in the prices of agro-industrial raw materials was moderated in December after a sharp rise in November (+3.6% after +6.5%). The prices of natural textile fibers slowed (+7.7% after 21.0%), notably cotton (+8.3% after +23.1%) as well as the courses of sawn wood of conifers (+3.9% after 11.8%).

In December, the prices of raw food in foreign currencies have accelerated (+5.2% after +3.6%), in particularly cereals (+6.0% after +2.0%) and beef meat (+2.0% after +0.6%). The prices of tropical beverages have also accelerated (+5.9% after +2.4%), due to the rebound in prices of tea and cocoa. Finally, the prices of oilseeds, vegetable oils and sugar grew at the same pace as in December.