Latest news with #LindtSpruengli
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cocoa Prices Erase Early Gains on Demand Concerns
September ICE NY cocoa (CCU25) today is down -87 (-1.01%), and September ICE London cocoa #7 (CAU25) is down -10 (-0.18%). Cocoa prices gave up an early advance today and turned lower, with NY cocoa falling from a 5-week high. Concerns over tepid chocolate demand are bearish for cocoa prices. More News from Barchart Tighter Supplies and Brazilian Real Weakness Boost Coffee Prices Signs of Tighter Supplies Lift Coffee Prices Market Bottom Alert: Corn Prices Look Set to Gain After August 12 Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! Recently, chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli AG lowered its margin guidance for the year due to a larger-than-expected decline in first-half chocolate sales. Also, chocolate maker Barry Callebaut AG reduced its sales volume guidance last month for a second time in three months, citing persistently high cocoa prices. The company projects a decline in full-year sales volume and reported a -9.5% drop in its sales volume for the March-May period, the largest quarterly decline in a decade. Strength in the British pound is also bearish for London cocoa after the British pound (^GBPUSD) rallied to a 2-week high today, which undercuts cocoa that is priced in terms of sterling. NY cocoa today initially rose to a 5-week high on signs of tighter supplies after ICE-monitored cocoa inventories held in US ports fell to a 1.75-month low of 2,283,787 bags on Thursday. Cocoa has support from the slowdown in the pace of Ivory Coast cocoa exports. Monday's government data showed that Ivory Coast farmers shipped 1.76 MMT of cocoa to ports this marketing year from October 1 to August 3, up +6% from last year but down from the much larger +35% increase seen in December. Concerns about dry weather in West Africa are also bullish for cocoa prices. According to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, rainfall in the Ivory Coast and Ghana this season remains below the 30-year average, and combined with high temperatures, risks hurting cocoa pod development for the main crop harvest that starts in October. Quality concerns regarding the Ivory Coast's mid-crop cocoa, which is currently being harvested through September, are supportive of prices. Cocoa processors are complaining about the quality of the crop and have rejected truckloads of Ivory Coast cocoa beans. Processors reported that about 5% to 6% of the mid-crop cocoa in each truckload is of poor quality, compared with 1% during the main crop. According to Rabobank, the poor quality of the Ivory Coast's mid-crop is partly attributed to late-arriving rain in the region, which limited crop growth. The mid-crop is the smaller of the two annual cocoa harvests, which typically starts in April. The average estimate for this year's Ivory Coast mid-crop is 400,000 MT, down -9% from last year's 440,000 MT. Another supportive factor for cocoa is smaller cocoa production in Nigeria, the world's fifth-largest cocoa producer. Nigeria's Cocoa Association projects Nigeria's 2025/25 cocoa production will fall -11% y/y to 305,000 MT from a projected 344,000 MT for the 2024/25 crop year. In related news, Nigeria's Jun cocoa exports rose +0.9% y/y to 14,597 MT. Cocoa prices sold off last month, with NY cocoa sinking to an 8.5-month nearest-futures low and London cocoa slumping to a 17-month nearest-futures low. Weakness in global cocoa demand has hammered prices. The European Cocoa Association reported on July 17 that Q2 European cocoa grindings fell by -7.2% y/y to 331,762 MT, a bigger decline than expectations of -5% y/y. Also, the Cocoa Association of Asia reported that Q2 Asian cocoa grindings fell -16.3% y/y to 176,644 MT, the smallest amount for a Q2 in 8 years. North American Q2 cocoa grindings fell -2.8% y/y to 101,865 MT, which was a smaller decline than the declines seen in Asia and Europe. Higher cocoa production by Ghana is bearish for cocoa prices. On July 1, the Ghana Cocoa Board projected the 2025/26 Ghana cocoa crop would increase by +8.3% y/y to 650,000 from 600,000 MT in 2024/25. Ghana is the world's second-largest cocoa producer. On May 30, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) revised its 2023/24 global cocoa deficit to -494,000 MT from a February estimate of -441,000 MT, the largest deficit in over 60 years. ICCO said 2023/24 cocoa production fell by 13.1% y/y to 4.380 MMT. ICCO stated that the 2023/24 global cocoa stocks-to-grindings ratio declined to a 46-year low of 27.0%. Looking ahead to 2024/25, ICCO on February 28 forecasted a global cocoa surplus of 142,000 MT for 2024/25, the first surplus in four years. ICCO also projected that 2024/25 global cocoa production will rise +7.8% y/y to 4.84 MMT. On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Hershey raising the price of candy bars due to cocoa shortage
Your favorite chocolate bar will soon come with a bigger price tag after Hershey announced it was raising the price of its candy over the high cost of cocoa. Hershey is expected to raise its prices for retail customers by double digits. Prices will generally increase between the low teens and 20 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing a company official. But the WSJ reports three-quarters of the candy maker's products should continue to cost $4 or less. Hershey executives have said demand for its products has remained strong, per the WSJ. The company has yet to see its full profits for the summer, when consumers are inclined to grab a pack of Hershey's bars for S'mores by the fire. High cocoa costs are to blame for the price increases at Hershey and other treat companies. Last December, cocoa prices hit over $12,000 per metric ton, according to the WSJ. While costs have fallen to about $8,100 per metric ton this week, they still exceed historic levels. West Africa, which accounts for about 70 percent of the world's cocoa supply, has been hit with poor weather, plant disease, aging tree stocks and destructive small-scale gold mining. While weather conditions have slightly improved, industry sources told Reuters earlier this month West Africa will likely see another 10 percent decline in cocoa output in the 2025 to 2026 season. The WSJ reported in another recent article Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Spruengli had attempted to pass rising cocoa costs onto consumers through price hikes, but even that wasn't enough to make up for the higher cocoa costs.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Signs of Weak Chocolate Demand Undercut Cocoa Prices
September ICE NY cocoa (CCU25) on Tuesday closed down -7 (-0.09%), and September ICE London cocoa #7 (CAU25) closed up +111 (+2.12%). Cocoa prices settled mixed on Tuesday. NY cocoa gave up an early advance Tuesday and turned lower, while London cocoa fell from its best levels due to concerns about cocoa demand. Chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli AG lowered its margin guidance for the year on Tuesday due to a larger-than-expected decline in first-half chocolate sales. More News from Barchart Brazil Coffee Harvest Pressures Slam Coffee Prices Brazil Coffee Harvest Pressures Hammer Prices Cocoa Prices Rally as the Pace of Ivory Coast Cocoa Exports Slows Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! Cocoa prices initially moved higher on Tuesday, supported by carryover from Monday, when coffee found support from a slower pace of cocoa exports from the Ivory Coast. Monday's government data showed that Ivory Coast farmers shipped 1.74 MMT of cocoa to ports this marketing year from October 1 to July 20, up +6.1% from last year but down from the much larger +35% increase seen in December. An excessive short position by commodity funds may add fuel to a short-covering rally. Last Friday, ICE Futures Europe reported that funds boosted their net-short London cocoa positions by 1,010 to 6,361 short positions the week ended July 15, the most in more than two years. Cocoa prices sold off last week, with NY cocoa sinking to an 8-month nearest-futures low last Thursday and London cocoa slumping to a 17-month nearest-futures low. Weakness in global cocoa demand has hammered prices. The European Cocoa Association reported last Thursday that Q2 European cocoa grindings fell by -7.2% y/y to 331,762 MT, a bigger decline than expectations of -5% y/y. Also, the Cocoa Association of Asia reported that Q2 Asian cocoa grindings fell -16.3% y/y to 176,644 MT, the smallest amount for a Q2 in 8 years. North American Q2 cocoa grindings fell -2.8% y/y to 101,865 MT, which was a smaller decline than the declines seen in Asia and Europe. Demand concerns are weighing on cocoa prices after chocolate maker Barry Callebaut AG reduced its sales volume guidance earlier this month for a second time in three months, citing persistently high cocoa prices. The company projects a decline in full-year sales volume and said there was a -9.5% drop in its March-May sales volume, the largest quarterly drop in a decade. In a bearish factor, ICE-monitored cocoa inventories held in US ports climbed to a 10.5-month high of 2,368,141 bags on Tuesday. Higher cocoa production by Ghana is bearish for cocoa prices. On July 1, the Ghana Cocoa Board projected the 2025/26 Ghana cocoa crop would increase by +8.3% y/y to 650,000 from 600,000 MT in 2024/25. Ghana is the world's second-largest cocoa producer. Cocoa prices have support from quality concerns regarding the Ivory Coast's mid-crop cocoa, which is currently being harvested through September. Cocoa processors are complaining about the quality of the crop and have rejected truckloads of Ivory Coast cocoa beans. Processors reported that about 5% to 6% of the mid-crop cocoa in each truckload is of poor quality, compared with 1% during the main crop. According to Rabobank, the poor quality of the Ivory Coast's mid-crop is partly attributed to late-arriving rain in the region, which limited crop growth. The mid-crop is the smaller of the two annual cocoa harvests, which typically starts in April. The average estimate for this year's Ivory Coast mid-crop is 400,000 MT, down -9% from last year's 440,000 MT. On May 30, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) revised its 2023/24 global cocoa deficit to -494,000 MT from a February estimate of -441,000 MT, the largest deficit in over 60 years. ICCO said 2023/24 cocoa production fell by 13.1% y/y to 4.380 MMT. ICCO stated that the 2023/24 global cocoa stocks-to-grindings ratio declined to a 46-year low of 27.0%. Looking ahead to 2024/25, ICCO on February 28 forecasted a global cocoa surplus of 142,000 MT for 2024/25, the first surplus in four years. ICCO also projected that 2024/25 global cocoa production will rise +7.8% y/y to 4.84 MMT. On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lindt lifts growth outlook on consumer loyalty, taste for premium chocolates
(Reuters) -Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli raised its organic sales growth forecast for 2025 on Tuesday, citing consumer loyalty and a trend towards more premium products. The maker of Lindor chocolate balls expects organic sales growth of between 9% and 11% this year, after previously guiding for growth of 7% to 9%. "We have shown resilience in a challenging market environment," CEO Adalbert Lechner said in a statement. Lindt posted sales of 2.35 billion Swiss francs ($2.95 billion) for the January-June period, compared with a mean estimate of 2.30 billion francs from analysts polled by LSEG. That corresponded to organic growth of 11.2%. "This strong result was positively influenced by necessary price increases of 15.8%," the company said in a statement. Lindt has been repeatedly raising its selling prices to offset the high costs of cocoa. The dynamic performance of core products such as Lindor and Lindt Excellence and product innovation including the Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate also drove growth, it added. Europe showed very strong organic sales growth of 17.7%, while North America grew 3.6% amid a weak consumer sentiment, it said. Lindt also faced foreign currency headwinds, as the Swiss franc strengthened against currencies in its key markets. When converted to Swiss francs, its half-year sales rose 9%. The value of the Swiss currency, seen as a safe haven amid economic turmoil, has grown nearly 14% against the U.S. dollar since the start of the year. ($1 = 0.7975 Swiss francs) Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lindt lifts growth outlook on consumer loyalty, taste for premium chocolates
(Reuters) -Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli raised its organic sales growth forecast for 2025 on Tuesday, citing consumer loyalty and a trend towards more premium products. The maker of Lindor chocolate balls expects organic sales growth of between 9% and 11% this year, after previously guiding for growth of 7% to 9%. Sign in to access your portfolio
