North American sales volumes of chocolate candy were down more than 21 per cent in the 13 weeks ending Sept. 7, compared to the same period last year, according to data from market research firm Circana. Photo by HANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images/Postmedia files

The slowdown at cocoa factories across the world is continuing to deepen, indicating that the impact of last year’s scorching price rally is still looming over processors’ profits and the cost of sweet treats isn’t likely to see a quick reprieve.

Cocoa grinding — the process of turning beans into butter and powder for chocolate and other confectionery — in Europe, the top consumer, likely fell to the lowest level for the third quarter in at least a decade, according to an average of 11 analysts and traders surveyed by Bloomberg

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