Cocoa

A Florida woman was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after allegedly stabbing a horse multiple times at a ranch on July 27. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey accused 69-year-old Shirley Zimmerley of attacking the horse while she was frustrated over its behavior. Authorities found the malnourished horse with stab wounds and whip marks, and Zimmerley was booked facing one felony charge and two misdemeanor counts.

A woman named Shirley Zimmerley was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly stabbing and whipping a horse multiple times at a ranch in Brevard County, Fla. The incident reportedly occurred on July 27 in front of a child receiving therapy. Following the arrest, Zimmerley was booked into the Brevard County Jail facing one felony charge and two misdemeanor counts.

69-year-old Shirley Zimmerley was charged with animal cruelty after allegedly stabbing a horse multiple times using a knife at a ranch in Brevard County, Florida. The incident took place in front of a child who was there for therapy, leading to the police investigation. Authorities found the injured horse and other horses on the ranch that had suffered multiple stab wounds and open sores.

Nigeria’s Bank of Industry and EIB Global signed an €85 million agribusiness credit line, with €60 million allocated specifically for cocoa processing and dairy industrialisation. At least 70 percent of the total package is earmarked for cocoa and dairy value chains.

Inflation remains high due to factors including a strong El Niño weather pattern, AI-driven chip shortages, lingering Trump tariffs, and global conflicts like the Ukraine war. The Federal Reserve faces pressure to raise interest rates, with investors expecting at least one hike by year-end. Agricultural commodities like coffee and cocoa are particularly vulnerable to price spikes from El Niño.

Cocoa prices have reached an eight-month high, while Ecuador, the world's third-largest cocoa grower, has seen a significant drop in exports, shipping $900 million less over four months.

El Niño is expected to cause droughts in Africa, threatening cocoa and coffee crops in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which supply over half the world’s cocoa. The droughts could reduce outputs, drive up global prices, and harm farmers who do not benefit from government-fixed prices. The IMF’s Africa chief announced plans to support nations affected by conflict-induced shocks.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s top cocoa producers, agreed to harmonize purchasing prices and harvesting calendars to stabilize global market volatility. The nations aim to revive a 2018 cocoa OPEC pact to protect farmers and address price shocks, as cocoa drives significant economic activity in both countries.

Ghana secured private sector deals worth £215 million during President John Dramani Mahama's UK visit, aiming to attract investment after recovering from an economic crisis. The country exited a $3 billion IMF bailout program and targets an investment-grade credit rating within three years, while addressing concerns about mispriced African debt and restructuring tools.

Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil stated that reduced coffee and cocoa costs will improve company margins. The announcement highlights anticipated financial benefits from lower raw material expenses.

A federal jury in Jacksonville, Florida convicted Frederick Karl Hildenbrand of nine counts of producing child sexual abuse material and two counts of possessing CSAM. Hildenbrand faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison for each production count, with sentencing scheduled for September 22, 2026.

Ivory Coast is considering quarterly price reviews for cocoa amid a global cocoa crash, as production declines in West Africa and an EU regulation aimed at stopping deforestation threatens to further increase prices.