Cocoa Congestion at Abdijan: 

What's Really Happening in Ivory Coast

In recent weeks, tens of trucks loaded with cocoa beans have been reported as unable to offload at Côte d’Ivoire’s key export hubs — especially the Port autonome d’Abidjan, West Africa’s largest commercial port, and the nearby Port autonome de San-Pédro. These delays have drawn attention because cocoa accounts for roughly 40–45 % of the global supply and is a cornerstone of the Ivorian economy.

Transporters and farmers have described a backlog of vehicles queued at port gates, waiting to export their cargo. Some trucks reportedly remain idle for extended periods, and prolonged storage raises concerns about quality deterioration. Producers who hoped for timely payment have found themselves waiting, at a time when international cocoa prices have softened, and buyers are exercising caution.

The Conseil Café-Cacao (CCC) — the regulatory body for the coffee and cocoa sector — has pushed back against descriptions of a full “blockage.” Its director general has characterized many of the trucks seen near ports as lacking proper bills of lading, documentary proof required for legal export, and therefore not eligible for unloading. According to the CCC, trucks with valid documentation are being processed and discharged. Officials have also sought to reassure farmers that all legally produced cocoa will ultimately be purchased under the established marketing system.

Still, agricultural unions and producer groups argue that administrative hurdles, combined with a cash crunch among buyers and an oversupply at export hubs, are contributing to genuine challenges in the field. The situation highlights structural pressures in a sector critical to rural livelihoods and global chocolate markets, even as authorities emphasize that regulatory compliance and orderly processing remain priorities.

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