Cocoa Futures Hover Around $5,700

Cocoa prices traded around $5,700 a tonne following recent volatility, remaining well above February’s lows, supported by signs of improvig demand and concerns over West African supplies. Third-quarter grindings rose a stronger-than-expected 14.3% across key processing regions, led by a 29.2% jump in Asia and a 3.2% rise in Europe, although North American processing declined 2.5%. On the supply side, concerns over the 2026/27 crop persist, as below-average rainfall in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and the potential impact of El Niño raise the risk of lower production. Meanwhile, ICE-monitored cocoa inventories continued to rise, reaching 3,593,964 bags on October 16, their highest level in more than two years.