The global cocoa market is facing another setback as cocoa grinders in Ivory Coast report a sharp decline in bean quality during the current mid-crop harvest.
Processors across the country are rejecting truckloads of beans or spending more on cleaning and sorting after noticing unusually high levels of impurities in recent deliveries.
Some grinders say up to 15% of certain truckloads contain poor-quality beans and waste materials—far above the typical 1% seen during the main crop season.
“This is not what we expect at this stage of the harvest,” one grinder said, speaking anonymously. “We’re seeing smaller beans and too much debris—tiny stems, stones, and leftover tissue from pods. It slows down production and risks damaging machines.”
The mid-crop, which usually yields smaller beans used for local processing into cocoa butter and other ingredients for chocolate, is now posing operational challenges for domestic grinders. With each batch requiring more work to process, the costs are rising at a time when the global market remains tight.
After two consecutive years of global supply shortages, cocoa futures had surged to record levels late last year. A small surplus was expected in the current season but these quality issues could erase that cushion and fuel further market volatility.
Ivory Coast’s cocoa regulator, Le Conseil du Café-Cacao, has confirmed that it is in discussions with the national union of exporters and grinders. Although current impurity levels are still within acceptable thresholds, the regulator said it is closely monitoring for any rise in foreign matter.
The cause of the declining quality is still unclear. However, some industry players believe middlemen and farm suppliers may be cutting corners during sorting, especially with farmgate prices on the rise. Despite remaining below international market prices, local rates have climbed steadily, encouraging quicker sales over careful selection.
Last year, excessive rains disrupted drying processes during the main crop harvest, leading to a spike in moldy and poorly dried beans. This latest issue with the mid-crop could compound existing challenges, particularly for local grinders who rely heavily on smaller beans for value-added processing.
“Even if the volume is there, poor quality takes its toll,” another processor noted. “We’re spending more to fix what should already be sorted, and that affects everything from costs to delivery schedules.”
With prices still well above historical averages and no clear resolution to the ongoing quality issues, cocoa buyers and manufacturers will likely remain on edge. As the market braces for more volatility, all eyes are on Ivory Coast to stabilize supply and ensure better handling practices in the weeks ahead.
