Food prices worldwide jumped almost 13 percent to the "highest levels ever" in March as the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted markets for staple grains and vegetable oils, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday.

The FAO food price index surged by 12.6 percent between February and March, "making a giant leap to a new highest level since its inception in 1990," the FAO said.

The FAO food price index averaged 159.3 points in March, up 33.6 percent year on year. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly-traded food commodities.

The FAO last month said food and feed prices could rise by up to 20 percent as a result of the conflict in Ukraine, raising the risk of increased malnutrition.

Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil, but the conflict between the two countries has disrupted export and production.

The agency's cereal price index climbed 17.1 percent in March to a record level while its vegetable oil index rose 23.2%, also registering its highest reading yet, FAO said.

(Cover photo via CFP)