North American cocoa grindings down

North American cocoa grindings in the first quarter dropped 12.97% from a year earlier, to 99,875 tonnes, according to data from the National Confectioners Association (NCA). Cocoa grinding is used as a measure of demand for the key chocolate ingredient.

The report previously included data from the United States only, but starting in this first quarter of 2009 the report included Canada, Mexico and the United States, NCA said in a release.

11 companies responded to the survey, including chocolate makers Barry Callebaut USA, Hershey, Nestle, ADM and Mars Snackfood US.
NCA also said reports will no longer include liquor and butter melted data.
The trend is similar to Europe where cocoa grinding fell 11.1% year-on-year to 315,177 tonnes in the first quarter, notes the European Cocoa Association.