File photo of cocoa farmers
Ivory Coast will reduce the farm-gate price of cocoa starting Sunday, March 1, 2026, as the government moves to address mounting unsold stock.
Farmers will receive between 800 and 1,000 CFA francs ($1.45–$1.81) per kilogram, a sharp drop from the current main crop price of 2,800 CFA francs.
The adjustment effectively brings forward the mid-crop season, marking the first time the West African nation has reclassified cocoa harvested in March as part of the mid-crop rather than the main crop.
Ivorian government say the measure is designed to stimulate sales and ease pressure from excess supply, following a downturn in global cocoa prices that has left large volumes stranded inland and at ports.
Government and regulatory sources told Reuters that the pricing shift is intended to make Ivorian cocoa more competitive internationally.
The move shows the challenges facing the world’s largest cocoa producer, which has struggled to offload stock as international buyers turn away from comparatively expensive beans.
The announcement comes shortly after Ghana reduced its producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season.
SA