Abidjan, 27 March 2015—The world’s largest cocoa producing countries should marshal their resources with a view to avoiding oversupply in the future and helping ensure equitable prices, ICCO Executive Director Dr Jean-Marc Anga told attendees at the opening of the 91st session of the International Cocoa Council in Abidjan in late March.

The meetings, kindly hosted by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producing country, were officially opened by Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, and attended by H.E. Mr. Jean Louis Billon, Minister of Trade, Agriculture Minister H.E. Mr. Sangafowa Coulibaly, and dignitaries from several of the Organization’s 48 member countries. (Photo of the official opening session, above, from Abidjan.net)

The week-long session included meetings of the ICCO’s Economics and Administration and Finance Committees, as well as of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy, which includes representatives of the major processors, chocolate manufacturers, and NGOs involved in the cocoa sector.

Dr. Anga’s presentation called on the five largest producing countries to conduct an inventory of their cocoa resources, and develop national strategies in line with demand, so as to avoid a negative effect on the market and on the price that farmers receive for their cocoa.

The meetings reported on all of the ICCO’s planned projects and activities, and on a number of upcoming events, including the first official announcement of the third edition of the successful World Cocoa Conference. Dr. Anga explained that the Conference, kindly hosted by the Government of the Dominican Republic, has been rescheduled for late May 2016 at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. (The initial brochure for the Conference is available for download by clicking here).

During the meetings, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) reported on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the bank and the ICCO signed in November 2014, under which the two institutions agreed to boost the development of the cocoa sector by promoting value addition through cocoa processing, strengthen capacity in building cocoa projects and project finance, and promote the consumption of cocoa products in Africa and Asia.

Delegates at the meetings discussed issues as diverse as profitable farm models, a proposed global sustainability fund, fine or flavour cocoa and the policy implications of long-term trends in global cocoa prices. They also had presentations by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Regarding the Council’s previous decision to move the headquarters of the Organization from London to Abidjan – a final discussion on which will take place at the next meetings in September 2015 – it was decided that the Secretariat would oversee the work of an accounting firm assigned to investigate both the costs of relocation and the potential ongoing costs of the ICCO operating in the Ivorian commercial capital.

Also during the meetings, a special seminar on Voluntary Standards in Cocoa Sustainability, presented by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre, attracted a hundred participants, mostly from the Ivorian cocoa trade and industry.

Presentations made at the 91st Council meetings in Abidjan (click on the titles to download):

The International Trade Centre and the ICCO are to hold an afternoon seminar on Voluntary Sustainable Standards in the cocoa sector at the Hotel Sofitel Ivoire, Abidjan,  in Abidjan on 24 March 2015.

This event is intended for policy makers, staff from national institutions in charge of the cocoa sector, cocoa cooperatives, cocoa farmers’ associations, relevant NGOs, local staff of certification systems, cocoa buyers and private cocoa and chocolate companies. It is open, free-of-charge to all.

For more details on the content and to register, please click here for information in English.

L’International Trade Centre en collaboration avec l’Organisation internationale du cacao (ICCO) organisent un séminaire sur les normes volontaires de durabilité, qui aura lieu à l’Hôtel Sofitel Ivoire à Abidjan, le mardi 24 mars 2015.

Cet événement s’adresse aux décideurs politiques, au personnel des institutions nationales chargées du secteur cacaoyer, aux coopératives cacaoyères, aux associations de cacaoculteurs, aux ONG concernées, au personnel local des systèmes de certification, aux acheteurs de cacao et aux sociétés privées du secteur du cacao et du chocolat. Il est gratuit et ouvert à tout les intéréssés.

Pour de plus amples informations sur le contenu et les modalités d'inscription en français, veuillez cliquer ici.

London, 27 February 2015–The International Cocoa Organization today releases its first forecasts for the 2014/2015 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for 2013/2014, as summarized below. The data published in Issue No. 1 – Volume XLI – Cocoa year 2014/2015 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of February 2015.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates

 

Cocoa year
(Oct-Sep)
2013/2014 2014/2015 Year-on-year change
Previous estimates a/ Revised estimates Forecasts
(thousand tonnes) (Per cent)
World production 4 365 4 355 4 232 – 123 – 2.8%
World grindings 4 268 4 281 4 207 – 74 – 1.7%
Surplus/deficit b/  + 53  + 30  – 17
End-of-season stocks 1 659 1 626 1 609 – 17 – 1.0%
Stocks/Grindings ratio 38.9% 38.0% 38.2%

 

Notes:
a/   Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XL – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2013/2014
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 2014/2015 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 2014.

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2010/2011 to 2012/2013 and quarterly statistics for the period October-December 2012 to April-June 2014. 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 2004/2005 to 2012/2013 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
Westgate House
Ealing
London W5 1YY, UK

Tel:              +44 (0)20 8991 6000
Fax:             +44 (0)20 8997 4372
E-mail:         registry@icco.org or info@icco.org