Ivory Coast Cocoa Crisis: Rain and Road Woes Threaten Harvest

Heavy rains in Ivory Coast's key cocoa-producing regions have deteriorated roads, hindering the harvesting, drying, and transportation of cocoa beans. The inclement weather has led to a significant drop in cocoa arrivals at ports and damaged the quality of beans, raising concerns among exporters and buyers.

Heavy rains have caused significant damage to roads in Ivory Coast's west, southwest, and coastal regions, complicating the harvest, drying, and transportation of cocoa beans. Exporters and buyers reported to Reuters that the adverse weather conditions have notably reduced cocoa arrivals at ports.

Six exporters, five cooperatives, and six buyers noted that since late September, heavy rains have rendered roads and village tracks impassable. Hamed Coulibaly, a cocoa buyer in the region, expressed concerns about stranded cocoa shipments, while Seydou Konate reported trucks stuck for days.

Cocoa arrivals in ports have dramatically dropped, with severe rains flooding plantations and damaging bean quality. Exacerbating the issue, the Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council attributes the low cocoa stock to delayed seed supplies rather than solely road conditions.

(With inputs from agencies.)