Cocoa Closes Slightly Higher on Dollar Weakness

July ICE NY cocoa (CCN22) on Friday closed up +2 (+0.08%), and July ICE London cocoa #7 (CAN22) closed up +6 (+0.34%).

Cocoa prices Friday closed slightly higher as a weak dollar (DXY00) sparked short-covering in cocoa futures.  Gains were limited on concern that rising inflation and a slowdown in the global economy will curb demand for commodities, including cocoa.  The International Cocoa Organization last Thursday released a report saying that "rising inflation could restrain the consumption of non-essentials and luxury goods including cocoa products should the situation persist."  

Signs of ample cocoa supplies are bearish for prices after ICE cocoa inventories June 9 rose to a 10-1/2 month high of 5.817 mln bags.

Smaller cocoa supplies from the Ivory Coast are bullish for prices after the Ivory Coast government reported Monday that Ivory Coast cocoa farmers sent a cumulative 2.24 MMT of cocoa to Ivory Coast ports from Oct 1-Jun 19, down -1.8% y/y.

In a bullish factor, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) on June 1 said that weather conditions and disease are negatively affecting cocoa production this year.  Also, trade disruptions and high freight rates are impacting the cocoa and fertilizer trade.  ICCO said the shortage of fertilizers on cocoa farms would likely hurt cocoa bean crop quantity, quality, and size next year.

A decline in cocoa supplies from Nigeria, the world's fourth-largest cocoa producer, is supportive of cocoa prices after May 26 data showed Nigeria's Apr cocoa exports fell -61% y/y to 12,497 MT.

On Feb 28, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) projected that global 2021/22 cocoa production would fall -by 5.2% y/y to 4.955 MMT from a record 5.226 MMT in 2020/21.  ICCO also estimates the global 2021/22 cocoa market will fall into a deficit of -181,000 MT from a surplus of +215,000 in 2020/21.

Big Picture Cocoa Market Factors: World cocoa production in 2021/22 (Oct/Sep) will fall -5.2% y/y to 4.955 MMT, and global 2021/22 cocoa grindings will rise +2.4% y/y to 5.05 MMT (ICCO).  ICCO forecasts a global 2021/22 cocoa deficit -174,000 MT from a +215,000 MT surplus in 2021/21.  The 2020/21 stocks/grindings ratio will shrink 34.3% from 38.9% in 2020/21.  Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa production (main crop Oct-Mar; mid-crop May-Aug) rose +1.2% y/y to 2.18 MMT, while Ghana 2019/20 cocoa production (main crop Sep-Mar; mid-crop May Aug) rose +2.3% y/y to 850,00 MMT (ICCO).

• Cocoa Closes Moderately Lower on a Stronger Dollar
• Cocoa Prices Slip on Demand Concerns
• Cocoa Climbs on Smaller Supplies from the Ivory Coast
• Cocoa Prices Firm on Pre-Weekend Short Covering