Ivory Coast cocoa grind falls 31% in July as poor bean quality hits processing sector 

IVORY COAST – Ivory Coast’s cocoa grind dropped sharply in July, falling 31.2 percent year-on-year to 39,301 metric tons, according to data released by exporters’ association GEPEX.  

The decline was attributed to poor bean quality and low volumes from the mid-crop season, forcing grinders to reject large quantities. 

From the beginning of the 2024/25 season in October through July, total grind reached 515,055 tons, down 4 percent compared to the same period last year. Grinding is a key stage in cocoa processing, transforming raw beans into products such as butter, powder, and liquor for the chocolate industry. 

“July’s grinding has fallen dramatically this year compared to last year, mainly due to the quality of the beans,” the director of an international grinding company in San Pedro told Reuters. “They are mediocre this year, so we are rejecting a large quantity due to a lack of fat and a high acidity level.” 

Exporters also reported a steep decline in cocoa bean arrivals at the country’s two main ports. Between April 1 and August 17, arrivals in Abidjan and San Pedro totaled 350,000 tons, down 30 percent from 500,000 tons during the same period last year. 

With stocks depleted, grinders now plan to rebuild reserves once the main harvest begins in October. “We are waiting for October to get good beans to rebuild all our stocks and return to the grinding level for the period, i.e. just over 58,000 tons per month,” said a director of a grinding company in Abidjan.  

“This will require us to be aggressive in our purchasing from the start of the season.” 

GEPEX data covers six of the largest operators in Ivory Coast, including Barry Callebaut, Olam, and Cargill. The country has an installed grinding capacity of about 750,000 tons, making it the world’s leading cocoa producer and a key competitor to the Netherlands in processing. 

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) reduced its export contract sales forecast for the main crop running from October to March to 1.2 million tonnes, down from 1.3 million.  

The regulator cited poor weather conditions, drought, and swollen shoot disease, which increased pod mortality between July and August, a critical period for determining harvest size. 

The CCC confirmed that 950,000 tonnes of cocoa have already been sold for the 2025/26 season, leaving 250,000 tonnes to be sold by the end of September.  

Under its marketing system, between 70 and 80 percent of the expected harvest is pre-sold to determine the guaranteed farm-gate price for farmers. 

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