Relaunch of the Call for Bids to Host the 6th World Cocoa Conference (WCC) 2027

Abidjan, 20 October 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is pleased to announce the relaunch of the call for bids to host the 6th edition of the World Cocoa Conference (WCC), scheduled for the second half of 2027. The new deadline for submitting bids is 31 December 2025, 11:59 PM UTC.

This relaunch follows the initial call published in May 2025 and aims to ensure that future submissions fully meet the Terms of Reference and address key requirements that were not sufficiently covered in previous bids. You can consult the original announcement here: Call for bids to host the 6th edition of the World Cocoa Conference, 2027.

Key Requirements for This Phase

  • Budget Commitment and PCO Arrangements
    Bidders must provide a written and unconditional confirmation to cover 50% of the total budget, estimated between €1.2 million and €1.5 million. Contributions may include direct financial support and/or major conference costs (venue rental, gala dinner, catering, etc.), clearly quantified in the bid.
    Revenues from registration fees, exhibition stands, sponsorship packages, and other sales will accrue to ICCO (after deduction of the PCO’s commission). If the bidder is a PCO or hires one, the commission of the PCO must be explicitly stated in the proposal.
  • Institutional and Industry Support
    Formal backing from national authorities (ministries, public agencies) and  from the cocoa and chocolate sector is required, evidenced through official letters of endorsement. Support from international industry actors is also expected.
  • Priority to ICCO Exporting Members
    In line with previous practice, priority will be given to ICCO exporting Members. If no qualifying bid is received from exporting Members, bids from importing Members and non-Member countries meeting the criteria will be considered.

Submission and Contact

Bids should be submitted in digital format to Mrs. Laetitia ANEY, Sustainable Development Officer, at Laetitia.Aney@icco.org, with copy to wcc6@icco.org. The ICCO Secretariat remains available for any clarification.

Link to the original call:
Call for bids to host the 6th edition of the World Cocoa Conference, 2027

Cocoa Market Report for September 2025

Abidjan, 16 October 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for September 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

Cocoa prices continued to fall in September 2025, extending the downward trend from August. This was driven by a more optimistic supply outlook, supported by:

  • Expanded production in Ecuador
  • Better weather in West Africa
  • Higher farm gate prices

A global surplus is expected for the 2025/26 season, not just due to increased output but also weaker demand, which remains slow to recover after previous price spikes. However, structural issues in West Africa still pose risks, suggesting that optimism should be cautious.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

Cocoa Market Report for August 2025

Abidjan, 17 September 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for August 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • During August 2025, prices of cocoa futures contracts experienced a rally in the first half of the month before reversing course in the latter half.
  • The gains were driven by persistent structural and quality concerns affecting the 2024/25 mid-crop. It was also compounded by fears over inadequate weather conditions in July 2025 and their potential impact on crop survival for the upcoming 2025/26 season.
  • However, in the latter half of the month, prices retreated amid subdued global demand and cautious optimism regarding the 2025/26 main crop. These factors contributed to a softening in market sentiment, reversing earlier price gains.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the following steps as they are just guidelines.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

August 2025 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 29 August 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization today releases Issue No. 3 – Volume LI of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, for the 2024/25 cocoa year. This issue reflects the most recent information available to the Secretariat as of early August 2025.

In light of an ongoing review of its estimation and long-term methodologies, the Secretariat has temporarily withheld production and grindings data for the 2024/25 season.

However, data for the 2023/24 season remain unchanged from the previous Bulletin:

  • World Gross Production declined by 12.9% year-on-year to 4.368 million tonnes.
  • World Grindings fell by 4.8% to 4.818 million tonnes.
  • The global supply deficit widened to 494 thousand tonnes.
  • End-of-season stocks dropped by 28% to 1.270 million tonnes, reducing the stocks-to-grindings ratio to 26.4%.

The Bulletin also reviews cocoa bean price trends for the April–June 2025 quarter. While prices have eased from historic highs, they remain elevated due to persistent supply constraints, notably those linked to unpredictable weather conditions. The Secretariat cautions that any adverse climatic developments could further impact supply and pricing.

On the trade front, global exports of cocoa beans and semi-finished products (measured in bean equivalents) reached 2.25 million tonnes between January and March 2025 – an increase of nearly 6% compared to the same period in the previous season.

This issue also includes trade statistics by country and region, covering crop years 2021/22 to 2023/24 and quarterly data from July–September 2023 to January–March 2025. Details of origin of imports and destination of exports for leading cocoa importing countries are also provided.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the data in this issue of the Bulletin as they may be subject to revisions in subsequent Bulletins and reports from the Secretariat.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, in Microsoft Excel and Adobe PDF formats, can be ordered from the new ICCO e-Shop: www.icco.org/shop or by email: statistics.section@icco.org

Cocoa Market Report for July 2025

Abidjan, 15 August 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for July 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • The first half of July 2025 was characterized by a notable downward trend in cocoa futures prices. This decline was largely driven by reports of improved crop for the 2025/26 season and expectations of weakening demand.
  • From mid-July onward, cocoa prices reversed course and began climbing, spurred by reports of unsettled weather in Cote d’Ivoire.
  • Weather remains a key variable for the upcoming main crop.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the following steps as they are just guidelines.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

Cocoa Trade & Investment Mission to Ghana

Abidjan, 18 July 2025 – From 11–19 October 2025, global cocoa stakeholders are invited to take part in the Cocoa Trade & Investment Mission to Ghana, a high-level initiative designed to strengthen international partnerships and promote sustainable investment in the cocoa sector.

As a key member of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), Ghana plays a pivotal role in the global cocoa economy. This mission offers a unique opportunity to explore the country’s dynamic cocoa value chain—from farm to port to processing—and to engage directly with Ghanaian institutions, businesses, and policymakers.

📌 Highlights of the Mission:

  • Site visits to cocoa farms, buying centres, ports, and processing facilities.
  • B2B matchmaking with Ghanaian cocoa firms and cooperatives.
  • Participation in the Cocoa Investment Forum in Accra.
  • Insights into traceability, sustainability, and value addition.
  • Cultural immersion and the Chocolate Fair, showcasing artisanal Ghanaian brands.

📄 Download the full brochure here: [Cocoa Trade Mission to Ghana Brochure.pdf]

🔗 Register now at: www.cocoamissions.org

📧 Contact: info@cocoamissions.org | partnerships@cocoamissions.org

Cocoa Market Report for June 2025

Abidjan, 09 July 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for June 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • Market participants are closely monitoring the progress of the ongoing mid-crop because it will be critical in shaping the global cocoa balance for the 2024/25 season.
  • The Secretariat’s discussions with reliable sources cast doubt on truck-based arrival estimates at Ivorian ports.
    Cocoa prices fluctuated over the month under review.
  • Price rallies were supported by short-term supply concerns due to low arrivals in Côte d’Ivoire.
  • However, the price rallies were reversed when favorable rainfall in Côte d’Ivoire boosted confidence in the 2025/26 crop outlook. There was also growing optimism around Ghana’s forthcoming crop, and increased output from non-West African producers, particularly in Latin America, helped ease supply fears.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the following steps as they are just guidelines.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

Cocoa Market Report for May 2025

Abidjan, 12 June 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for May 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • In May 2025, cocoa futures prices showed both bullish and bearish trends.
  • Bullish factors included a shift in market concerns from volume to quality.
  • Conversely, improved weather conditions and reduced cocoa inventory concerns constituted bearish factors.
  • The ICCO’s cocoa monthly report for May 2025 discusses insights into the factors that influenced these divergent price movements.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the following steps as they are just guidelines.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.

May 2025 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

Abidjan, 30 May 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization today releases its revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for the 2023/24 cocoa year. The data published in Issue No. 2 – Volume LI – Cocoa year 2024/25 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of May 2025.

For the 2023/24 season, global production and grindings are projected to decline by 12.9% and 4.8% to 4.368 million tonnes and 4.818 million tonnes respectively.

Regarding cocoa trade, global exports of cocoa beans and semi-finished cocoa products, measured in bean equivalents, reached 2.490 million tonnes during October to December 2024, representing an increase of 6.1% compared to 2.347 million tonnes recorded during October to December 2023.

A review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the January-March quarter of 2025 is also presented.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates

 

Cocoa year
(Oct-Sep)		 2022/2023 2023/2024 Year-on-year change
Revised
estimates		 Previous
estimates a/		 Revised
estimates
(thousand tonnes) (Per cent)
World gross production 5 016 4 489 4 368 – 648 – 12.9%
World grindings 5 058 4 885 4 818 – 240 – 4.8%
Surplus/deficit b/ – 92 – 441 – 494
 
End-of-season stocks 1 764 1 336 1 270 – 494 – 28.0%
Stocks/Grindings ratio 34.9% 27.3% 26.4%

Notes:
a/ Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. LI – No. 1 – Cocoa year 2024/25
b/  Surplus/deficit: net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings. Totals may differ due to rounding

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2021/22 to 2023/24 and quarterly statistics for the period April-June 2023 to October-December 2024. Details on destinations of exports and origins of imports for leading cocoa exporting countries are also provided.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the data in this issue of the Bulletin as they may be subject to revisions in subsequent Bulletins and reports from the Secretariat.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, in Microsoft Excel and Adobe PDF formats, can be ordered from the new ICCO e-Shop: www.icco.org/shop or by email: statistics.section@icco.org

Cocoa Market Report for April 2025

Abidjan, 20 May 2025 – The International Cocoa Organization releases the Cocoa Market Report for April 2025. The current report highlights the following insights:

  • News about cocoa supplies at the beginning of the mid-crop, i.e., April 2025, revealed the potential for a poor mid-crop from the top-producing countries in West Africa. In addition, the flat tariff rate of 10% on all U.S. imports supported prices.
  • On the demand side, Q1 2025 quarterly grinding data from major cocoa associations revealed a decline: the European Cocoa Association reported a drop of 3.7% (to 353,522 tons); the Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) reported a decline of 3.44% (to 213,898 tons); and the National Confectioners Association (NCA) reported a decline of 2.45% (to 110,278 tons). Although quarterly grindings were negative, they were better than analysts’ expectations. The grinding data signaled some demand resilience and boosted prices.
  • With uncertainty concerning the mid-crop lingering, there are five months remaining until the end of the season. The next five months will be interesting as progress in market fundamentals will provide a clearer view of the cocoa market outlook.

Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the following steps as they are just guidelines.

You can download the complete report by clicking here.