Cocoa stocks in Ivory Coast are surging as exporters push back against the government’s fixed farmgate price of 2,800 CFA per kilogram. Cooperatives across the country are struggling to sell beans after major buyers cited falling global cocoa prices and weak international demand as reasons for refusing to pay the mandated rate.
The standoff has left warehouses and storage facilities filling up, raising concerns about liquidity for cocoa farmers and cooperatives. Analysts say that while the government aims to protect farmers’ incomes through the fixed price, the current global market slump has created a mismatch between domestic pricing policies and international cocoa trade realities.
Industry observers warn that if the deadlock continues, it could lead to delayed payments for producers, reduced cash flow for cooperatives, and potential disruption of Ivory Coast’s cocoa export schedule, which remains critical for one of the world’s largest cocoa-producing nations.
Government officials have called for dialogue with exporters to find a solution that balances farmer welfare with market sustainability. Meanwhile, farmers are urging flexibility in pricing to prevent further accumulation of unsold stock.
