Strongest El Niño threatens Asia with droughts and a rise in global food prices
The El Niño developing in 2026 could become the strongest on record and lead to severe droughts in Asia, as well as a rise in global food prices.
According to the Associated Press, Southeast Asia remains particularly vulnerable, where forest fires, falling water levels in reservoirs and a deteriorating situation in fisheries are already being recorded.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration puts the probability that the current El Niño will become the strongest since observations began in 1950 at 69%. The phenomenon is expected to peak in December.
Experts warn that the drought could hit rice and palm oil production. India, Vietnam and Thailand are among the world's largest rice exporters, while Indonesia and Malaysia provide about 85% of global palm oil supplies.
According to Goldman Sachs estimates, a reduction in agricultural output due to El Niño could lead to a rise in global food prices of more than 15%. The UN World Food Programme also warns that by the end of 2027 at least another 49 million people could face acute food shortages.
El Niño is a natural warming of surface waters in the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean, which affects weather conditions in various regions of the world and can intensify droughts, floods and periods of extreme heat.
