Ghana set to raise cocoa farmgate price by nearly 45%, sources say
Price rise needs Cabinet approval
Ghana also increased prices in April
Price increase in Ivory Coast could follow
By Maxwell Akalaare Adombila
ACCRA, Sept 2 (Reuters) -Ghana will increase the state-guaranteed price paid to its cocoa farmers by nearly 45% for the 2024/25 crop season, two sources with knowledge of the price review told Reuters, to help boost their incomes and deter bean smuggling out of the country.
The world's number two cocoa producer raised the farmgate price by more than 58% to 33,120 cedi ($2,123.08) per metric ton, or 2,070 cedi per 64 kilogram (kg), in April for the rest of the 2023/24 season.
The mid-season price hike came after top cocoa producer, neighbouring Ivory Coast, raised its farmgate price to 1,500 CFA francs (US$2.55), or around 40 cedis, per kg for the April-to-September mid crop of the 2023/24 season, up from 1,000 CFA francs last season.
One source said Ghana's cocoa producer price review committee had pegged the price at 48,000 cedi per ton, translating to 3,000 cedi per 64 kg of cocoa, for the 2024/25 season due to begin later in September, an increase just shy of 45%.
The source said the decision would be sent to the cabinet pending an announcement.
Both sources asked for anonymity because the decision is not yet public.
The second source said it was unlikely that the cabinet would change the committee's decision, saying also the price could not be increased beyond 48,000 cedis per ton without pushing Cocobod, Ghana's cocoa marketing board, into a deficit.
Ghana's price will also have to align with Ivory Coast's 2024/25 farmgate price, which has yet to be announced, the person added.
The two biggest cocoa growing countries set up an initiative to coordinate farmgate prices and cocoa supplies to help sustain the sector and boost their farmers' incomes.
Cocoa prices have been buoyant this year as disease and adverse weather in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together supply more than 60% of the world's cocoa, pushed the market to a third successive deficit.
The International Cocoa Organization on Thursday raised its global cocoa deficit forecast for the 2023/24 season (October-September) to 462,000 tons from 439,000 tons, saying the market was headed for a 45-year low stocks-to-grindings ratio.
Cocobod previously planned to launch the 2024/25 season on Sept. 1, earlier than usual, with a reduced production target of 650,000 tons, but both sources said the opening will be later.
Opening the season earlier was aimed at helping reduce bean smuggling, which has been incentivised by low prices and delayed payments to farmers.
Some of Ghana's cocoa farmers and licensed buyers accused both sides of hoarding beans to benefit from the proposed price hike in the new season.
($1 = 15.6000 Ghanian cedi)
($1 = 587.4800 CFA francs)
Reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Portia Crowe and Barbara Lewis
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.