NASDAQ:EARS News 13 January 2026

February 2, 2026, 1:48 AM EST. Cocoa futures on ICE for March delivery hit multi-year lows amid pressures from ample global supply and weak demand. Analysts forecast a 287,000-metric-ton surplus in 2025/26 and rising stocks up 4.2% year-on-year. Barry Callebaut, the largest chocolate maker, reported a 22% drop in cocoa sales volume, citing soft demand and focus on higher-margin segments. European and Asian grindings declined sharply in Q4, indicating sluggish consumption. Cocoa inventories in U.S. ports climbed to a 2.5-month high, adding bearish sentiment. Meanwhile, favorable growing conditions in West Africa, the top producer, boost expectations for a strong harvest, with pod counts 7% above average. However, producers are withholding shipments due to low prices, with Ivory Coast exports down 3.2% this marketing year.