Côte d’Ivoire is preparing to open its 2026–2027 coffee and cocoa marketing season with 68 conditioning units identified by the Coffee and Cocoa Council, the sector’s regulator.

The main marketing campaign officially begins on September 1, according to a decision signed by Council Director-General Koné Brahima Yves and published ahead of the new season. The identified facilities will operate under the supervision and monitoring of the regulator and must comply with current regulations.

The move comes at a critical moment for the world’s leading cocoa-producing country.

Industry sources cited by Reuters expect the start of the main cocoa crop to be significantly delayed, with difficult weather conditions, insufficient farm maintenance and a strong mid-crop contributing to the slowdown.

Although the main season officially starts on September 1, cocoa arrivals at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro are expected to remain relatively low through September and October before increasing in late October and November.

The Coffee and Cocoa Council forecasts the 2026–2027 main crop at around 1.4 million tonnes through February 2027, while exporters estimate between 1.4 million and 1.45 million tonnes.

The timing could create additional pressure on storage and port infrastructure, particularly in November and December, when larger volumes are expected to reach the country's export terminals.

The new campaign also comes as Côte d’Ivoire strengthens controls and traceability across its cocoa supply chain, amid tighter international requirements on deforestation and sustainable sourcing.

For the Ivorian cocoa industry, the challenge is therefore twofold: manage the logistics of a potentially concentrated harvest while ensuring that the country remains competitive and compliant with increasingly demanding international markets.

With 68 conditioning facilities identified for the new campaign, the regulator is putting in place the infrastructure and oversight needed for another crucial season for Côte d’Ivoire’s economy.