Cocoa Futures Remain Near 2023-Lows
2026-04-20 13:46
By
Luisa Carvalho
1 min. read
Cocoa futures rose toward $3,400 per tonne but remained close to the lowest since August 2023, as traders continued to weigh signs of weak global demand against prospects of ample supply.
Industry data showed that cocoa grindings in top consumer Europe fell almost 8% and dropped nearly 4% in North America, both exceeding market estimates.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg Intelligence reported chocolate candy sales fell about 5% year-on-year during the Easter holiday, a peak seasonal period for consumption.
On the supply side, adequate rainfall across key West African growing regions has raised the prospect of another global surplus in 2026/27.
Latest data showed ICE-monitored certified inventories at US ports fell by 5,511 bags to 2,618,981, though levels remain high by historical standards, indicating comfortable supply conditions.
However, renewed disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz added concerns over logistics and transportation costs.