Africa-Press. Côte d’Ivoire has begun to slow the pace of cocoa export contract sales for the 2026-2027 main season, despite strong demand from global markets, due to increasing concerns about the impact of the El Niño climate phenomenon on production in the upcoming season.
According to sources in the Ivorian Coffee and Cocoa Council, the country has sold between 950,000 and one million tons of cocoa in export contracts for the new season starting in September, but authorities have decided to proceed cautiously and reduce the pace of future sales in anticipation of any potential decline in the crop.
The council has also raised the price premium on new contracts to over £100 per ton above reference prices in global markets, benefiting from strong demand and expectations of tightening global supply.
Ivorian authorities fear that the anticipated El Niño phenomenon in the coming months could lead to droughts and rising temperatures in West Africa, which may negatively impact cocoa production in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Officials have noted that the past months have already seen high temperatures affecting the growth of the upcoming crop.
Some exporters believe that the greatest risk is not only from El Niño but also from a shortage of fertilizers and rising prices, in addition to aging farms and the spread of agricultural diseases. Recent surveys have shown that the majority of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire have been unable to purchase sufficient quantities of fertilizers due to high prices.
Despite these concerns, the regulatory body had predicted last month a 10.5% increase in cocoa production for the 2025-2026 season, reaching between two million and 2.1 million tons, marking the first production increase after several seasons of decline.
Cocoa holds significant economic importance for Côte d’Ivoire, as the country is the largest producer and exporter globally, while international markets closely monitor weather developments in West Africa due to their direct impact on chocolate prices and cocoa-related food products.
