Germany’s BDSI reports reduced cocoa grindings, and major spike in sugar prices

Germany’s BDSI national confectionery association has reported that the ten bean-based companies operating within the country have delivered cocoa grinding figures down 2.1%, at a total of 97,421.6 t of cocoa in the fourth quarter of 2023, amid continued global pressure on supplies, writes Neill Barston. According to the trade body, grindings within the country were also down for the year by 1.2% to 392,792.4 tonnes, which mirrored a challenging picture for the sector as prices hit near-record highs on both the New York and London commodity markets. As the BDSI noted, European figures also show a downward trend, with the European Cocoa Organization (ECA) reports at www.eurococoa.com for the 4th quarter of 2023 that 350,739 t of raw cocoa were ground. This corresponds to a decrease of 2.5% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Moreover, as Confectionery Production has reported over the past year, the heightened price of beans, and reduced cocoa grindings within ...