The world has moved a step closer to a food price shock after the US government surprised traders by cutting stock forecasts for key crops, sending corn and soyabean prices to their highest level in 30 months.

　　世界朝着“粮价冲击”靠近了一步。美国政府下调了主要农作物的储量预测，此举出乎交易员意料，推动玉米和大豆价格涨至30个月来最高水平。

　　The price jump comes after the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation warned last week that the world could see repetition of the 2008 food crisis if prices rose further. The trend is becoming a major concern in developing countries.

　　此前，联合国粮农组织(FAO)上周警告，假如粮价进一步上涨，2008年的全球粮食危机可能重演。这一趋势已让发展中国家担忧不已。

　　While officials are drawing comfort from stable rice prices, key for feeding Asia, they warn that a sustained period of high prices, especially in grains such as wheat, would hit poorer countries. Food price hikes have already led to riots in Algeria and Mozambique.

　　虽然作为亚洲主食的大米价格保持稳定让官员们略感放心，但他们警告，粮价——尤其是小麦之类的谷物——长时间处于高位，将对较贫穷国家造成冲击。粮价飞涨已在阿尔及利亚和莫桑比克引发骚乱。

　　“Stocks of corn and soyabean are at incredibly tight levels ... and the markets are surging to incredibly strong prices,” Chad Hart, agricultural economist at Iowa State University, said.

　　“玉米和大豆储量异常吃紧……而市场价格正飙升至异常强劲的水平，”爱荷华州立大学(Iowa State University)农业经济学家查德·哈特(Chad Hart)表示。

　　Agricultural traders and analysts warn that the latest revision to US and global stocks meant there was no further room for weather problems. The crops in Argentina and Brazil, to be harvested soon, look fragile due to dryness.

　　农产品交易员和分析师警告，对美国和全球粮食储量的最新修订，意味着今后不能再出现天气问题。由于干旱，阿根廷和巴西收获在即的作物看来将会歉收。

　　Traders are particularly concerned about the cost of vegetable oil, key for developing countries such as China where an emerging middle class is buying more frying oil. The US Department of Agriculture said the ratio of global stocks-to-demand would fall later this year to “levels unseen since the mid-1970s, reflecting an accelerated pace of vegetable oil” consumption for food and fuel.

　　交易员们尤其担心植物油的价格。植物油在中国等发展中国家是一种重要食品，这些地区的新兴中产阶层越来越多地购买煎炸油。美国农业部表示，今年晚些时候，全球植物油储量需求比将跌至“上世纪70年代中期以来的最低水平，反映出植物油消费的加快增长”。植物油既是食品，也用作燃料。

　　In Chicago, the price of soyabeans rose as much as 5.2 per cent to $14.20½ a bushel, the highest since late 2008. The USDA said that domestic stocks-to-demand would drop to the lowest point in nearly half a century.

　　在芝加哥，大豆价格盘中最高上涨5.2%，至每蒲式耳14.205美元，为2008年末以来的最高水平。美国农业部表示，美国大豆的储量需求比将跌至近半个世纪以来最低水平。

　　Corn prices jumped 5 per cent to $6.37 a bushel, the highest level since July 2008.

　　玉米价格飙升5%，至每蒲式耳6.37美元，为2008年7月以来最高水平。