Ivory Coast’s delayed cocoa crop could mean congested ports ahead of EU rules, sources say

Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council is concerned that a delayed start to the 2026/27 main cocoa crop could lead to port congestion ​as exporters rush to ship before stricter European Union deforestation rules take effect ‌at the year-end, industry sources said.

Even though the main season will begin on September 1, the sources said weekly arrivals were expected to stay below 15,000 metric tons in September ​and 25,000 tons ​in October.

The cocoa council expects total arrivals from ​the main crop, beginning from September and ending on February 28, ​2027, to ⁠be no more than 1.