Brazilian 2004/05 (May/April) cocoa arrivals from Bahia and other states totaled 2.72 million 60-kg bags by February 13, down 15 percent from 3.20 million bags a year ago, the Bahia Commercial Association said on Wednesday. Bahia state, Brazil's main cocoa producer, delivered 13,175 bags in the week that ended February 13, compared with 10,366 bags in the same week in 2003/04.
"To judge by the average quantities received in recent years during the 11 weeks till the end of the crop, the final outturn of the current main crop may not reach 800,000 bags, in contrast to almost 1 million bags in 2004," analyst Thomas Hartmann said in the association's weekly report.
The small amount of cocoa that arrived in terminal markets in Bahia in the past two weeks was from stocks that had been hoarded by smaller merchants, Hartmann added.
Most of Bahia's cocoa region will continue to receive ample showers into next week. Temperatures remain between 22 and 32 Celsius (72 and 90 Fahrenheit).
Bahia's farm gate prices stayed sluggish, with little business. Prices eased to 65 reais per arroba (15 kg) on Tuesday from 66 reais last week.
A firming of the real to its highest level against the dollar since June 2002 depressed local prices.
Premiums against NYBOT May cocoa futures ranged between $85 and $130.
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