Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, is facing serious quality issues in its exports. Exporters are returning large portions of cocoa beans arriving at ports due to mold and high waste rates.

Supply Pressure and Rejected Shipments

According to sources close to the market, approximately 65% of trucks (each carrying 30–60 tons of cocoa beans) are being sent back. This further complicates supply at a time when the market is already expecting a surplus.

Despite more than two weeks having passed since the start of the 2025–2026 main crop season, quality problems persist. Sources report that shipments contain on average 110 defects per 100 grams, which exceeds Ivory Coast’s official requirement of 90–100 defects per 100 grams.

Small Beans and Additional Contaminants

The size of cocoa beans is a quality indicator. Smaller beans require more processing and are therefore less valuable in the market.Factors worsening the problem include small stems, stones, and residues of the tissue that connects beans to the pod. These contaminants not only reduce the product’s value but also increase the risk of damage to processing equipment.

Price Increases and Risky Blending

The Ivory Coast government has raised prices for farmers to encourage more beans to reach warehouses. However, this step could have unintended consequences: farmers and intermediaries may mix lower-quality beans with the new main crop before sending them to warehouses.This could further lower quality and increase tension in the market.

Past Experience and Ongoing Risks

In the 2024–25 season, Ivory Coast also faced quality issues. Even Cargill Inc. had to temporarily halt cocoa processing because high waste rates reduced productivity and posed a risk to machinery.The same problems are recurring in this year’s main crop season, signaling a serious warning for investors and producers monitoring the global cocoa supply.

Experts note that, against the backdrop of the expected surplus and rising prices, the quality problem could cause short-term market disruption and also affect long-term supply reliability.

Reference:

Bloomberg — “Ivory Coast Exporters Reject Cocoa Beans Over Poor Quality”, 2025

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