February 2019 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 28 February 2019–The International Cocoa Organization today released its first forecasts for the 2018/2019 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for 2017/2018, as summarized below. The data published in Issue No. 1 – Volume XLV – Cocoa year 2018/2019 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of February 2019.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates

 

Cocoa year (Oct-Sep)	2017/2018		2018/2019	Year-on-year change
	Previous estimates a/	Revised estimates	Forecasts
	(thousand tonnes)				(Per cent)
World production	4 638	4 649	4 799	+ 150	+ 3.2%
World grindings	4 570	4 594	4 712	+ 118	+ 2.6%
Surplus/deficit b/	+ 22	+ 9	+ 39
End-of-season stocks	1 748	1 734	1 773	+ 39	+ 2.2%
Stocks/Grindings ratio	38.2%	37.7%	37.6%

Notes:
a/   Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XLIII – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2017/2018
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 2018/2019 cocoa year, as well as data for the past four years of production and grindings of cocoa beans, detailed by country. In addition, the Bulletin includes comments on crop and demand prospects in the leading countries for the current season, the evolution of trade flow data estimated for major cocoa importing countries in Europe during the 2017/18 season and a review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the October-December quarter of 2018.

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2014/2015 to 2016/2017 and quarterly statistics for the period October-December 2016 to April-June 2018. 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 2008/2009 to 2016/2017 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:         info@icco.org