Europe and Asia cocoa grindings beat forecasts in third quarter

Third quarter cocoa grindings rose 3.2 percent in Europe to 348,215 tonnes and a record 29 percent in Asia to 233,767 tonnes, both well above market expectations.

Why it matters: Grindings are the main proxy for chocolate demand, and the upside surprise, against forecasts for a European decline, pushed December cocoa higher in New York and London on Thursday.

Data as of Friday, October 16, 2026, 05:41 ET. Scheduled Q3 cocoa grind catalyst. Single sourced to Barchart reporting of European Cocoa Association and Cocoa Association of Asia figures, opened and read in full. North American grindings, due after the New York close, had not been reported in the sources checked, hence grade C for a developing item.

European cocoa grindings rose 3.2 percent from a year earlier in the third quarter to 348,215 tonnes, the European Cocoa Association reported, against market expectations for a decline of about 3.9 percent. Asian grindings rose 29 percent to 233,767 tonnes, a record for the quarter and well above expectations of about 15 percent, the Cocoa Association of Asia reported.

December cocoa settled 1.67 percent higher in New York and 1.04 percent higher in London on Thursday after the figures. North American grindings were due after the New York market close and had not been reported in the sources checked at the time of writing.

Europe and Asia cocoa grindings beat forecasts in third quarter

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