Cocoa: Farm-Gate Price Set at CFA 1,200 per Kilo for the Mid-Crop Season

In Côte d’Ivoire, the cocoa regulator has announced the official price for the 2026 mid-crop season, setting the guaranteed minimum farm-gate price at CFA 1,200 per kilogram for well-fermented, well-dried, and properly sorted beans.

The measure applies from March to August 2026. The regulator stressed that no deductions are permitted and that any purchase below this threshold is strictly prohibited.

A Sharp Drop After the Main Crop

The new price contrasts sharply with that of the 2025–2026 main crop. Since October 1, 2025, farmers had benefited from a guaranteed price of CFA 2,800 per kilogram, compared to CFA 1,800 during the previous season.

The difference is significant: the new level for the mid-crop represents less than half the price applied until March 31, 2026, for the main harvest.

At the time, the increase aimed to support farmers’ incomes amid high volatility on international markets. However, the trend has since reversed abruptly, with cocoa prices in London and New York falling by half from their 2024 peaks.

A Decision Amid Trade Tensions

The announcement comes as the cocoa sector faces a delicate phase. Several exporters had slowed purchases, arguing that the Ivorian price of CFA 2,800 far exceeded global market levels, which have been in marked decline since their 2024 highs.

On the ground, some farmers experienced difficulties selling their production, and payment delays were reported within cooperatives.

The regulator has therefore launched an exceptional CFA 280 billion program to buy back unsold volumes from farmers’ organizations. The aim is to ease logistical bottlenecks and improve cash flow across the sector.

The government has also revised the campaign calendar as of March 1, 2026. The main crop will now run from September 1 to February 28, while the mid-crop season will extend from March 1 to August 31. This reorganization is intended to streamline operations and allow exporters to resume purchases under a revised framework.

In this context, setting the price at CFA 1,200 appears to be an adjustment aimed at aligning the domestic rate with international market realities in order to revive transactions.