Ivory Coast's Record Rubber Production: A Shift from Cocoa

Ivory Coast's natural rubber production soared over 30% year-on-year, reaching a record 1.7 million metric tons in 2023. This growth, driven by the sector's solid organization, farmer training, and free support, has led farmers to prefer rubber over cocoa. Full geolocation of rubber plantations is expected by year-end, enhancing compliance with EU deforestation laws.

Ivory Coast's natural rubber production rose over 30% year-on-year to reach a record 1.7 million metric tons in 2023, the head of the West African nation's natural rubber association Charles-Emmanuel Yace, said on Friday. Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer, is also Africa's leading grower of natural rubber, and the world's third largest after Thailand and Indonesia.

Production has risen in recent years as farmers, attracted by the promise of more stable income have increasingly switched to rubber from cocoa and other cash crops. "The increase in natural rubber output is due to the good organization of the sector, the training of stakeholders and free support for farmers," Yace said, adding that output was expected to rise in the next two years.

Yace said Ivory Coast was still struggling to geolocate all rubber plantations across the country to improve mapping and traceability. The top commodities producer is lagging in efforts to ensure that its cocoa, and other products destined for the European market comply with European Union deforestation law that will come into full effect from January 2025.

"By the end of the year, we will be able to geolocate all rubber plantations," he said.

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