Authorities in Ivory Coast have confiscated 33 trucks loaded with approximately 1,100 tonnes of cocoa beans, which were being smuggled across the border into Guinea. This operation was led by the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), the country’s regulatory body, according to sources within the council.
The rise in cocoa smuggling comes as both Ghana and Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producers, face poor harvests. A military source, along with multiple buyers and exporters, confirmed the details of the seizure but requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak on the matter.
The region’s cocoa production has plummeted, driving the global market into a supply deficit, which is now in its fourth year. This shortage has led to a significant spike in global cocoa and chocolate prices.
In response to the crisis, Ivory Coast has raised the fixed farmgate price for cocoa farmers by 20%, now offering 1,800 CFA francs ($3.09) per kilogram for the main harvest of the new season, announced Agriculture Minister Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani. The 2023/24 season has been particularly challenging, with a reported 25% drop in cocoa production across West Africa.
Ghana, which closely coordinates with Ivory Coast on cocoa pricing, recently implemented a nearly 45% increase in its farmgate price to 48,000 cedis ($3,043.75) per metric ton.
As Ivory Coast’s 2024/25 cocoa season began on October 1, the country recorded a steep decline in cocoa arrivals at ports—just 13,000 tonnes by October 6, down 74% compared to the same period last year. To prevent further disruptions, the CCC previously announced measures to curb hoarding by threatening sanctions against buyers and cooperatives in September.
