February 2008 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

The International Cocoa Organization today releases its first forecasts for 2007/08 and revised estimates for the 2006/2007 cocoa year of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans, summarized below. The data published in issue No. 1 – Volume XXXIV –  Cocoa year 2007/08 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of February 2008.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates:

Cocoa year (Oct-Sep) 2006/2007 2007/08 Year-on-year change
 Previous estimates a/  Revised estimates  Forecasts
(thousand tonnes)  (Per cent)
World production 3 400 3 376  3 713 +337 + 10.0%
World grindings 3 608 3 641 3 727 + 86 + 2.4%
Surplus/deficit b/ – 242 – 299 – 51
End-of-season stocks 1 598 1 587 1 536 – 51  – 3.2%
Stocks/Grindings ratio 44.3% 43.6% 41.2%

Notes:
a/ Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XXXIII – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2006/07
b/ Surplus/deficit: net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings
Totals and differences may differ due to rounding.

This issue of the Bulletin contains the Secretariat’s first forecasts for the 2007/08 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 the colour charts.  In addition, it includes a review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the October – December quarter of 2007.

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition covers annual data from 2003/04 to 2005/06 and quarterly statistics for the period from October-December 2005 to April-June 2007.  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 region, for the period 1997/98 to 2005/06, are presented for reference.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, including Microsoft Excel files and Adobe PDF format for Windows operating system can be ordered from ICCO Secretariat at the address below:

International Cocoa Organization
Commonwealth House
1-19 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1NU
Tel: +44 (0)20 7400 5050
Fax: +44 (0)20 7421 5500
E-mail: info@icco.org