【环球财经】尼日利亚拟重设行业监管机构 计划振兴可可产业

Core Viewpoint - The Nigerian government is taking significant steps to revitalize its cocoa industry by establishing a new regulatory body, the National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB), after nearly 40 years of deregulation, aiming to restore cocoa as a vital export commodity [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Developments - The Federal Executive Council approved a draft bill to establish the NCMB, which will oversee the entire cocoa industry, marking a crucial step towards revitalization [1]. - The initiative to create a new regulatory body began in August 2022 with the formation of the National Cocoa Management Committee, tasked with developing strategies to restore cocoa's status as a key export [2]. Group 2: Industry Challenges - Key issues hindering the cocoa industry's development include weak pest and disease control systems, aging plantations, an imbalanced age structure among workers, insufficient funding, and a lack of unified industry standards [2]. - The cocoa industry in Nigeria has been marginalized since the 1970s when oil became the economic backbone, leading to a decline in cocoa production [2]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Cocoa prices have surged approximately 400% over the past three years, with futures contracts reaching historical highs of over $12,000 per ton, driven by strong international demand and the depreciation of the Nigerian naira [2]. - Nigeria's cocoa export value is projected to increase significantly, with estimates of over 7-fold growth to 2.7 trillion naira (approximately $1.7 billion) during the 2023-2024 period [2]. Group 4: Production Outlook - Despite being the fifth-largest cocoa producer globally, Nigeria has historically lagged behind leading producers like Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, missing market opportunities due to limited industry scale [3]. - The cocoa production for the 2023-2024 season is expected to exceed 300,000 tons, with improved climate conditions anticipated to yield even greater harvests [3]. Group 5: Future Prospects - The establishment of the NCMB is seen as a means to enhance competitiveness with major cocoa-producing countries like Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire [4]. - A new generation of farmers is increasingly investing in modern plantations and adopting early-maturing cocoa varieties, indicating a shift towards industry transformation [4]. Group 6: Government Focus - The Nigerian government is shifting its focus towards cocoa as a potential driver for future export revenues, especially in light of declining oil production and prices [5].