Cocoa Price Crash Spurs Hopes for Demand Recovery, Cheaper Candy

The collapse in cocoa futures is stoking optimism among some industry players that the pace of processing will improve as cheaper beans filter through the supply chain, easing the price of candy bars.

Companies, even now, are still working through pricey stock or following tweaked recipes that use less cocoa after a historic rally in 2024 reshaped the chocolate industry. The demand destruction that followed, coupled with decent harvests, has boosted prospects for a larger-than-expected surplus and has pushed the most-active New York cocoa contract down more than 70% from its record.