The ICCO Expert Working Group on Stocks (EWGS) met via videoconference today, Thursday 4 March 2021 to review the level of estimated and identified world cocoa bean stocks as at the end of the 2019/20 cocoa year. The EWGS is composed of experts in the cocoa field who meet at the invitation of the ICCO.

LOCATION OF THE ESTIMATED AND IDENTIFIED COCOA BEAN STOCKS
30 SEPTEMBER 2018 30 SEPTEMBER 2019 30 SEPTEMBER 2020

Stocks in cocoa importing countries 1,110 1,107 1,086
Stocks in cocoa exporting countries 215 215 164
Cocoa beans in transit 74 85 70
Total estimated and identified stocks 1,399 1,407 1,320
Estimated and identified stocks as a percentage of statistically-derived stocks 79%
82%
76%
ICCO statistically-derived stocks 1,768 1,720 1,730
Totals and differences may differ due to rounding.

The EWGS now notes that a gap of 410,000 tonnes exists between the annual assessment of the estimated and identified cocoa bean stocks worldwide and the ICCO’s statistically- derived stocks figure. This is due to the existence of stocks held in non-reporting locations of which Asia is the most significant area.

While the ICCO Secretariat maintains, so far, its supply surplus estimate of 10,000 tonnes for 2019/20 as published in its latest QBCS, it may revise that figure in its next Bulletin due at the end of May 2021, taking into account the outcome of this survey.

About ICCO

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is an inter-governmental organization established in 1973 under the auspices of the United Nations and operating within the

framework of successive International Cocoa Agreements. The ICCO is headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Organization comprises 51 Member countries, of which 22 are cocoa exporting countries and 29 are cocoa importing countries. These Member countries together represent 92% of world cocoa exports and 80% of world cocoa imports.

The ICCO seeks to promote and support the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the cocoa value chain, and in particular to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers. The Organization acts as a center for knowledge and innovation in the World Cocoa Economy; as a platform for institutional cooperation to foster dialogue among its Member countries and between key stakeholders in the cocoa value chain; and as a source of technical assistance for its Member countries.