Brazilian 2006/07 (May/April) cocoa arrivals from Bahia and other states totalled 1.05 million 60-kg bags by July 16, down 18 percent from 1.29 million bags a year ago, the Bahia Commercial Association said on Wednesday.
Bahia state, Brazil's main cocoa producer, delivered 94,475 bags in the latest week, up from 66,107 bags in the same week last year. "The arrivals from Bahia continued steady and even showed a slight increase, giving food to a possible upward revision of earlier forecasts for the Temporao (midcrop) output to 1.3 million bags, or maybe even more," cocoa analyst Thomas Hartmann said in the association's weekly report.
"Cocoa coming in from other states persists way above the levels of previous crops, for which - so far - we have found no explanation," he added. The weather in Bahia's cocoa region will remain dry and sunny or partially cloudy during the week, with light showers forecast for Monday. Temperatures would vary from 16 to 26 degrees Celsius (61-79 Fahrenheit).