Ivory Coast expands cocoa export licences amid improved weather 

IVORY COAST – Ivory Coast, the world’s leading cocoa producer, has granted cocoa export licences to 109 companies and cooperatives for the 2025/26 season, an increase from 106 in the previous season, according to a document from the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC). 

Among the firms granted licences are major international cocoa traders and chocolate manufacturers such as Olam, CEMOI, Barry Callebaut, Touton, Sucden, Nestlé and Cargill.  

The CCC, which oversees cocoa marketing and exports, continues to implement its strategy of pre-selling between 70% and 80% of the expected harvest to help set the guaranteed farmgate price. 

In August, the CCC cut its export contract sales for the October-to-March main crop to 1.2 million tons from 1.3 million tons due to poor weather conditions earlier in the season.  

By September, the CCC reported it had already sold 950,000 tons of cocoa for 2025/26, leaving 250,000 tons still to be sold by the end of the month. 

The regulator had raised concerns in July over high mortality rates of flowers and cherelles on cocoa plantations but delayed adjusting export contracts until its August forecasts were finalised.  

Cooperative managers have revealed that many farmers are stockpiling beans as they wait for the announcement of the new guaranteed farmgate price, expected in late September or early October.  

Farmers are anticipating a price higher than the current 2,200 CFA francs per kilogram. 

Despite earlier worries about output, recent above-average rainfall across major cocoa-growing regions has improved production prospects for the October-to-March main crop.  

Growers in key areas said the rains should enhance cocoa tree yields and support healthy pod development. 

If strong rainfall continues through late October, most of the main crop is expected to be harvested between November and December, with farmers predicting good-quality beans and larger sizes. 

Following reports of favourable weather conditions, cocoa prices on international markets have fallen sharply, with New York cocoa hitting a 10.5-month low and London cocoa sliding to a 2.25-month low.  

Ivory Coast remains in its official rainy season, which runs from April to mid-November, providing abundant rainfall that supports cocoa production. 

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