Chocolate Prices Surging
It has been a year since cocoa prices doubled. Climate change has damaged crops in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, which together produce more than 75% of the world’s supply.
New EU research reveals that the problem persists. “In 2024 alone, floods in the UK and France decreased wheat production and high temperatures in Eastern Europe disrupted maize crops, making imports crucial for food security, while higher rainfall left cocoa rotting in West Africa, creating headwinds for chocolate producers.”
The stunning data is that crop problems in Africa are expected to persist through 2030 and perhaps for decades beyond.
Price Up By Over 100%
After topping $12,000 per ton, the price of cocoa has risen back to $9,000, and the trend is up. In mid-2023, it was $2,700
The prices are ruining chocolate production. They habitually offer smaller amounts to consumers while simultaneously raising prices.
The cocoa increase is an example of what climate change can do to an entire industry. Farmers often lose their crops and, in some cases, their farms and livelihoods. Manufacturers lose their profit of raising their prices sharply. The consumer must pay more or skip chordate altogether.
More from ClimateCrisis 247
- Fight To Save Climate Is Falling Apart
- Bottle Caps Spread Microplastics To Humans
- Eating Termites Will Help The Environment
- Nighttime Extreme Heat Is The Most Dangerous
