May 2018 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 31 May 2018–The International Cocoa Organization today releases its revised forecasts for the current 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. 2 – 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 May 2018.

Summary of revised forecasts and estimates

 

Cocoa year (Oct-Sep)	2016/2017	2017/2018		Year-on-year change
	Revised estimates	Previous Forecasts a/	Revised Forecasts
	(thousand tonnes)				(Per cent)
World production	4 744	4 638	4 587	– 157	– 3.3%
World grindings	4 400	4 847	4 531	+ 131	+ 3.0%
Surplus/deficit b/	+ 297	+ 105	+ 10
End-of-season stocks	1 727	1 830	1 737	+ 10	+ 0.6%
Stocks/Grindings ratio	39.3%	40.8%	38.3%

Notes:
a/   Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XLIV – No. 1 – 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 revised 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 Bulletin includes comments on crop and demand prospects in the leading countries for the current season, and a review of price developments on interna- tional markets for cocoa beans during the January-March 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 January-March 2016 to July-September 2017. Details of destination of exports and origin of imports for leading cocoa exporting 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