Brazil's 2005/06 (May/April) cocoa arrivals from Bahia and other states totalled 2.92 million 60-kg bags by December 11, up 28 percent from 2.28 million a year ago, the Bahia Commercial Association said.
Bahia state, Brazil's main cocoa producer, delivered 56,127 bags in the week, up from 35,841 bags a year earlier. "Last week's arrivals from Bahia remained stable in contrast to previous years, when they had already started to drop off sharply. Thus the cumulative total has now almost reached the level of the 2003/04 season," cocoa analyst Thomas Hartmann said in the association's weekly report.
He added that arrivals from other states were routine.
Following recent rainfall, partially cloudy and dry weather is forecast for Bahia's cocoa region from Wednesday onward except a few light showers in the southernmost areas near the weekend. Temperatures remain at 20 to 32 degrees Celsius (68 to 90 Fahrenheit).
Rising terminal quotes and dollar exchange rates helped Bahia's farm gate prices to gradually increase from last Wednesday's range of 46 to 49 reais per arroba (15 kg) to 49.50 to 52 reais traded on Tuesday.