Early signs show that the world’s largest cocoa producing region, West Africa could produce a record 2010/11 main crop following several years of disappointing output, Gerry Manley, Managing Director of cocoa at Olam International, has said last week.

Wheat prices hit a 22-month high after a severe drought and ensuing wildfires in Russia devastated crops.

Ivory Coast has announced plans to double cocoa production to two million tonnes over the next five years, President Laurent Gbagbo has said last week, apparently kicking off his election campaign after a polling date was set.

Newmont has reported a 79 per cent increase in adjusted net income during the second quarter of this year to $377 million or 77-cents per share.

EQUATING supply to meet rising energy demand particularly in the industrialized nations and Asia is becoming increasingly challenging, ExxonMobil Corporation has said.

Goldman Sachs is suggesting that mining companies should sell gold forward. The logic behind this is that the bank reckons the gold price will increase to $1,355 an ounce over the next 12 months - a tiny increase from its earlier prediction of $1,335.

White sugar rose for a third day in London on speculation that Asian demand will help to keep consumption steady and on loading delays at ports in Brazil, the world’s biggest producer.