Cocoa leads the rise in commodities for the 2nd year in a row globally

Cocoa and coffee are set to end 2024 as the top-gaining commodities for the second year in a row, taking advantage of a global supply deficit, while steelmaking coal will be the worst performer, hurt by China’s slow growth. Looking ahead, global trade tensions are likely to dominate the commodities landscape in 2025, with Donald Trump’s return to the White House threatening hefty tariffs, analysts said. A strong dollar and gold’s appeal as a safe haven for investors are likely to support precious metals prices, while ample supply could depress oil for a third straight year, they added. The bad news for chocolate lovers is that cocoa has nearly tripled in price over the course of 2024, far outpacing gains in other commodities. The contract hit a record high of $12,931 per metric tonne in New York earlier this month on forecasts of a fourth straight season’s supply shortfall in West Africa following dry weather. Major cocoa producers Ivory Coast and Ghana have suffered crop ...