Cold weather and below-average rainfall in Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, are raising concerns for the 2025/26 main crop (October–March), farmers told Reuters. During the rainy season (April–mid-November), regions like Soubre, Daloa, and Yamoussoukro saw significantly less rain last week—e.g., Soubre received only 1.6mm, 10.4mm below the five-year average—potentially stunting young cocoa pods, known as cherelles, per Cocoa Association of Ivory Coast.
Farmers report a good mix of pod sizes but warn that without more rain and sunshine soon, crop yields could suffer. In areas like Agboville and Abengourou, bean supply is tight, though expected to improve by mid-August. Some growers are stockpiling beans, anticipating a price hike from the current 2,200 CFA francs ($3.90) per kg in October, driven by the upcoming presidential election, as noted by Bloomberg.
The Ivory Coast cocoa concerns highlight risks to global supply. Stay updated on how weather impacts the 2025/26 cocoa season!
source: myjoyonline
