Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator has tightened the issuance of transport permits for beans headed to the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro in a bid to ease congestion and stabilise farmgate prices, its managing director said Tuesday.
Kone, head of the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), said early-season backlogs at exporters’ factories created a misleading impression of surplus supply, slowing purchases and dragging prices below the guaranteed 2,800 CFA francs per kilogram to about 2,500 CFA francs (US$4.27) in October and November.
Under the new system, factories can only receive as many truckloads as their daily unloading capacity. “If a factory can only unload 16 trucks per day, then only 16 trucks will be authorized,” Kone said, adding the move has already eased congestion and improved market efficiency.
The restrictions have cut prolonged sales delays that had forced farmers to accept discounts or wait weeks for payment. With December marking peak production, Kone said conditions have already improved since late November.
Cocoa arrivals for the 2025/26 season remain in line with forecasts, but the CCC is projecting output of just 1.3 million tonnes down sharply from 1.7 million tonnes three years ago. Kone warned the decline will take years to reverse due to the scale of investment required.
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Despite lower output, he said the regulator is satisfied with current sales, though the long-term outlook for the sector remains challenging.
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