London cocoa futures rose sharply on Wednesday, climbing to a five-month peak as market participants priced in the risk that El Nino weather patterns could curb output in West Africa for the 2026/27 season. The move was accompanied by gains in New York cocoa and a modest rise in Arabica coffee, where slower fieldwork in Brazil was cited as a factor.
On the London exchange, cocoa contract LCCc2 closed up £252, or 7.2%, at £3,753 per metric ton. Earlier in the session the contract reached £3,793, marking its highest level in five months.
Traders have been watching developments in the Ivory Coast closely. Two sources at the country’s cocoa regulator said earlier this week that the West African nation, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has temporarily stopped selling export contracts for its 2026/27 main crop while it waits for a clearer estimate of production.
Across the Atlantic, New York cocoa CCc2 rose 7.1% to $4,973 per ton, after touching an intraday five-month high of $5,040.
Arabica coffee KCc2 also moved higher, settling up 1.25 cents, or 0.5%, at $2.772 per pound. The contract earlier touched $2.8480 per pound, putting it near a six-week high.
On the supply side for coffee, Cooxupe, Brazil’s largest coffee cooperative, reported that its farmers had harvested 20.1% of their 2026 crop as of June 19. That compares with 24.3% harvested at the same point last year, with the cooperative attributing the slower pace to rain that delayed fieldwork.
The price moves in both cocoa and coffee reflect a combination of weather-related concern and producer-level actions that have reduced near-term visibility on supply. The temporary suspension of contract sales in Ivory Coast and the slower harvest progress reported by Cooxupe were central to this week’s market reaction.
Below is a concise recap of the market developments and the supply signals that underpinned the recent price moves.
- London cocoa: LCCc2 closed at £3,753 per metric ton, up £252 (7.2%).
- New York cocoa: CCc2 up 7.1% to $4,973 per ton, earlier touching $5,040.
- Arabica coffee: KCc2 settled at $2.772 per pound, up 1.25 cents; earlier reached $2.8480.
- Producer updates: Ivory Coast temporarily halted export contract sales for its 2026/27 main cocoa crop; Cooxupe reported 20.1% of the 2026 coffee crop harvested by June 19, versus 24.3% a year earlier due to rain delays.