Cocoa Prices Dip as West Africa's Crop Outlook Brightens

Rich Asplund, Nasdaq / Barchart — September 25, 2025

December ICE NY cocoa (CCZ25) closed down 123 points (−1.75%), and December ICE London cocoa #7 (CAZ25) was down 49 points (−1.00%). Cocoa prices dipped after touching earlier lows this week, as improved rainfall in Ivory Coast has boosted hopes for the upcoming West African cocoa crop. 

• According to Mondelez, current cocoa pod counts in West Africa are 7% above the five‑year average and “materially higher” than last year. 
• Ivory Coast’s main crop harvest is expected to begin next month, and farmers show optimism about crop quality. 
• Over October 1–September 21, farmers in Ivory Coast shipped ~1.82 million metric tons of cocoa, up 4.6% from the previous year. 
• However, weakness in global cocoa demand provides a bearish influence. In Q2 2025, European cocoa grindings fell 7.2% year-on-year, and Asian grindings dropped 16.3%.