Multinational cocoa exporters operating in Costa do Marfim, the world's largest producer of this commodity, are therefore concerned about a possible drop in supply to farmers in the coming months. In addition, adverse weather has impacted crops, raising fears that some companies may not be able to fulfill their contracts.
So far this season, grain volumes arriving at ports have increased by 34% compared to the same period in 2023-2024. However, the last season was the worst in a decade, according to a director at a European buying firm, who declined to be named.
“If you compare arrivals with 2022, a normal season, we are 15% below that. This means the situation is not good at all, despite appearances,” said a European exporter.
Climate impacts on cocoa crops
In the western and southwestern regions, responsible for more than half of cocoa production in Ivory Coast, heavy rains have caused major damage to plantations.
“We were happy at the beginning of October, but the rains came and ruined everything. Today, we only have a few pods to harvest and nothing else,” lamented Daniel Konan Kanga, a farmer with six hectares in the city of Duekoue, in the west of the country.
The situation is similar in Soubre, in the southwest, where farmer Simon Djedje, who owns five hectares, reported: “There is nothing left to harvest.”
Outlook for the cocoa sector
Cooperatives, buyers and middlemen say they completed most of the main harvest in November and that shortages are expected to persist until February or March. Typically, the main harvest peaks in December, while the intermediate harvest begins in April.
“I don’t see how we can reach our volume targets with two or three months of low arrivals,” said the director of a multinational export company in the port of San Pedro.
He stressed that production will be weak until January or February, possibly until March, and described the situation as “unsustainable” for the sector.
Source: Ange Aboa | Notícias Agrícolas
