The outlook for the last half of the 2024/25 cocoa market is dominated by generally favorable weather and upward revisions to production estimates. Demand remains a major focal point as well with the U.S. tariffs and recession risk likely to upend consumption in the world’s second biggest chocolate market. Overall, WPI sees more bearish prospects for cocoa prices over the next few months and into 2025/26 as global supplies look to recover from their disastrous 2023/24 levels. Short-Run Dynamics Over the past three months, ICE cocoa futures have traded a relatively tight range (compared to recent history) of $7,600-$9,460/MT with buyers willing to chase rallies and end-users becoming active on breaks. Tight global stocks are help...
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.