Ghana Likely to Delay Some Cocoa Deliveries as Disease Worsens
- Swollen shoot virus to reduce crop forecast to 800,000 tons
- Replanting of trees to weigh on production for four years
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Ghana’s cocoa regulator is facing a shortage of beans to meet all its sales commitments as disease is affecting more of the crop than previously estimated, according to people familiar with the matter.
An outbreak of the swollen shoot virus will probably reduce the harvest of the world’s second-largest cocoa grower to 800,000 metric tons for the season through September, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. An initial estimate of 900,000 tons was cut to 850,000 tons last month following a crop assessment.