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

Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council warns that a delayed start to the 2026/27 cocoa harvest could cause port congestion as exporters prepare to ship before new European Union deforestation rules take effect by year-end. The council, the industry regulator in the world’s leading cocoa producer, stated they are prepared for the new rules last week.

However, two council officials and five exporters now predict port congestion in November and December, with storage capacity potentially strained. They attribute the delay to adverse weather, lack of farm upkeep, and the mid-crop’s strength, which slowed the growth of the main crop. One source estimates the main crop will be delayed by eight to ten weeks.

Industry executives and council officials expressed concern over the impending export surge in December. Despite the start of the main season on September 1, experts anticipate weekly arrivals will remain under 15,000 metric tons in September and 25,000 tons in October. The main-crop volumes are expected to start arriving late October or early November and increase through December.

The council projects total arrivals from the main crop, from September to February 28, 2027, will not exceed 1.4 million tons, with exporters projecting 1.4 to 1.45 million metric tons. Approximately 900,000 tons of cocoa are expected to reach Ivorian ports between October and December 2026, compared to the updated 1.1 million tons in the same period in 2025. Ports typically receive 800,000 to 1 million tons during those months.