A ton of cocoa beans has been sold at a new high price on electronic exchange trading, priced at $12,987, marking a 206% increase in price over the year. This surge in price is primarily due to a low yield of cocoa beans in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, which together contribute to 60% of the world's production, caused by unfavorable weather and disease. The global deficit of cocoa beans is at a record high of 500 thousand tons, leading to expectations of higher prices for chocolate and confectionery products. Manufacturers are responding by adding more additives to their products to offset the increased cost of cocoa.