TRENDS AND MAIN EVENTS IN THE COCOA MARKET January 2023

1. Season of 2022/2023

Upon results of 2022, the prices at the London Cocoa Exchange increased by approximately 15% , at the New York Exchange −  approximately by 4% , the difference is caused by the fact that the British Pound Sterling has devaluated by 10% in 2022 year compared to US dollar.

As of 25.12.22 Ivory Coast’s cocoa port arrivals have been up +12.6% on a year-to-year basis. 1, 160, 000 tons were delivered to the ports. 

However, Nigeria and Ghana demonstrate less results compared to the last year, with Nigeria producing 20% less as of the beginning of December. Mainly due to weather conditions.

There are no official numbers for Ghana, but there is a significant deficit: due to the local currency devaluation, most of the harvest is transported to Côte d’Ivoire, where farmers receive up to 20-30% more for their product.

Inflation in Ghana reached 81%.

GEPEX or the main processors of cocoa beans into cocoa products in Côte d’Ivoire increased their production scopes by 5% on a year-to-year basis. Total year-on-year cocoa products export increased by 10.5%.

Other news from Ghana is rather disconcerting: Ghana stopped paying its external debts from December 19, 2022; the share of external loans received from the European Union comprises about 40%.

The news appeared just 5 days after the IMF gave a $3 billion loan to Ghana.

This step may be related to the previous legislative proposal of the European Union envisaging a ban on agricultural products originating from the countries that do not take measures against deforestration. We remind to have earlier raised the topic about Ghana encouraging logging for further planting cocoa trees, rubber trees, as well as illegal mining of rare earth metals. The law has not taken effect yet.

2. Technical analysis

Fundamental and technical analysis clearly state that the market is too outbid; as forecasted in the previous report we demonstrated the increasing quotes at the New York Exchange reaching almost 2,700 US dollars price per ton, however, the increase occurred without whatsoever correction.

Due to the weakness of GBP we saw unprecedented prices at the London Exchange that reached 2,150 GB pounds per ton in the mid December.

Currently the New York Exchange demonstrates an upward spike as well as indistinct waves picture composed of 5 waves which, as we believe, shaped the first long increase wave that is to be seen during the upcoming trading. 

The upward spike pattern may end in the coming days accompanied by the prices correction; most probably the prices correction will be implemented in 5 waves and may last for 6 – 10 weeks, it is difficult to predict how strong it is going to be; however, the market may well lose up to 10% of its value. 

If this scenario is implemented, we will witness a further prices increase on the NY Exchange reaching $3,000 per ton and more.

WEATHER