In 2024, the price trend for chocolate liquor continued strong, with most price movements being upward. This was attributed to the low supply of cocoa, which is used in the production of chocolate liquor, and the higher production costs. This was evident in the first half of the year, where prices for chocolate liquor went up due to a decline in cocoa production in West Africa, which was caused by bad weather, diseases, and old trees. This resulted in a reduction in the quality of crops, which was also caused by heavy rainfall followed by hot weather, thereby impacting the availability of cocoa beans used in the production of chocolate liquor.
In the second quarter, the market was tight, and Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which are major producers of cocoa, produced less than expected. Also, logistics issues, coupled with increased freight costs, posed a problem. The demand for premium and specialty chocolates also remained favorable, which contributed to the increase in chocolate liquor prices.
In the second half of the year, prices remained high even though there was a slight correction in the prices, which had previously hit a peak. The harvest was poor, and there was also a problem of illegal mining in Ghana, which contributed to the pressure on the supply of chocolate. The chocolate manufacturers, however, increased the cost of chocolate liquor, which remained high during the year.