Chocolate shortages worldwide, prices soared

The price of cocoa beans in South Africa has risen, the shortage of beans has halted production of the essential ingredient for chocolate, and chocolate may face a global shortage.

According to foreign media, chocolate companies have started raising prices, cocoa crops have been losing for the past 3 years, while African countries Ghana and Ivory Coast produce 60% of the world’s cocoa.

It should be noted that it is not possible to make chocolate from raw cacao, so chocolate companies have to depend on processors, who turn the beans into butter and liqueur, which are then used to make chocolate.

However, processors cannot afford to buy beans, on the other hand, state-owned Ivorian beans processor Transcau says the plant has stopped buying beans due to the price hike. It should be noted that Transcau is the ninth largest plant in the country.

According to the plant, currently stocked beans are being used.

On the other hand, in a conversation with foreign media, two industry sources, on condition of anonymity, said that the plants have almost become inoperable.

The source added that the state-run plant, which produces half of the world’s cocoa, is close to shutting down in the next few days.

Global trader Cargill has also been scrambling to buy Benzes, with operations halted in the last week of last month to avoid stalling the process.

While in the South African country of Ghana, the government-owned plant Cocoa Processing Company was also closed in the month of October. Also confirmed that the company is running out of Benzes.