Industry Issues: Commodities

2003/2004 Cocoa Commodities

Supply and Outlook

COMMODITIES – COCOA REVIEW
By: Bill Guyton and Robert Peck

WORLD SUPPLY AND OUTLOOK :
World production forecasts for 2003/04 are slightly lower than the previous year. 

West Africa continues to lead global production.  Roughly 70 percent of the world's crop is grown in West Africa, but analysts predict a 2.4 percent decline this coming year.  Cocoa grown in Asia represents 18 percent of global yield. Growth in the region is predicted to increase by 5.1 percent primarily in Indonesia. The Americas produce 14 percent of world supply and estimates indicate a 3.9 percent increase in the coming year.  

FIGURE 1: WORLD PRODUCTION FORECAST

COUNTRY

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04 (forecast)

WEST AFRICA

Ivory Coast

1,195

1,219

1,294

1,240

Ghana

415

401

498

495+

Nigeria

174

187

160

170

Cameroon

135

128

155

150

Other Africa

30

32

35

35

Total Africa

1,949

1,967

2,142

2,090
(-2.4%)

ASIA/OCEANIA

Indonesia

389

453

430

450

Malaysia

40

35

33

37

Other Asia

61

59

61

64

Total Asia

490

546

524

551 (+5.2%)

AMERICAS

Brazil

163

124

163

173

Ecuador

96

85

85

90

Other America

164

174

170

171

Total Americas

422

383

418

434 (+3.9%)

WORLD

TOTAL

2,861

2,896

3,084

3,075 
(-0.3%)

Units ‘000 tons
Sources: LMC International, ICCO, ED&F Man

WEST AFRICA
In the Ivory Coast, the main harvest season started late. Analysts predict a 50,000 - 70,000MT decline from the previous year, although forecasting has been difficult due to civil conflicts in the Western regions of the country and from cross border trade with neighboring countries taking advantage of higher farm gate prices. The