February 2018 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 28 February 2018–The International Cocoa Organization today releases its first forecasts for the 2017/2018 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for 2016/2017, as summarized below. The data published in Issue No. 1 – Volume XLIV – Cocoa year 2017/2018 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of February 2018.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates

 

Cocoa year (Oct-Sep)	2016/2017		2017/2018	Year-on-year change
	Previous estimates a/	Revised estimates	Forecasts
	(thousand tonnes)				(Per cent)
World production	4 733	4 748	4 638	– 110	– 2.3%
World grindings	4 351	4 401	4 487	+ 86	+ 2.0%
Surplus/deficit b/	+ 335	+ 300	+ 105
End-of-season stocks	1 760	1 725	1 830	+ 105	+ 6.1%
Stocks/Grindings ratio	40.5%	39.2%	40.8%

Notes:
a/   Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XLIII – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2016/2017
b/   Surplus/deficit: Net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings
Totals may differ due to rounding.

This issue of the Bulletin contains the Secretariat’s first forecasts for the 2017/2018 cocoa year, as well as data for the past four years of production and grindings of cocoa beans, detailed by country. The main features of the global cocoa market are illustrated in colour charts. In addition, the Bulletinincludes comments on crop and demand prospects in the leading countries for the current season, and a review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the October-December quarter of 2017.

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2013/2014 to 2015/2016 and quarterly statistics for the period October-December 2015 to April-June 2017. Details of origin of imports and destination of exports for leading cocoa importing countries are also provided. Historical statistics on cocoa trade and consumption, by country and by region, for the period 2007/2008 to 2015/2016 are presented for reference.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, including Microsoft Excel files and Adobe PDF format, can be ordered by completing and returning this form, or from the ICCO Secretariat at the address below:

International Cocoa Organization
06 P.O. Box 6891
Abidjan 06
Côte d’Ivoire

Tel:              +225 22 51 49 50/51
Fax:             +225 22 51 49 79
E-mail:         registry@icco.org or info@icco.org