Average cocoa prices paid to farmers in Ivory Coast were mixed in the week of June 14 to 20, data from the Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) marketing body showed on Tuesday.
A private cocoa buyer in the eastern town of Abengourou, where prices rose, told Reuters the increase was due to fierce competition between buyers who then went on to sell beans at higher prices over the border in Ghana.
"Farmers are happy here. Buyers in the bush give them between 300 and 350 CFA francs per kg. Buyers then sell their beans for between 400 and 450 CFA francs per kg in Ghana," the buyer said.
He said few cocoa beans had left the region for Ivory Coast's ports during the current mid-crop.
Apart from the West African country's two ports, Abengourou had the highest average price among cocoa areas during the period, but prices remained well below the indicative price of 375 CFA francs ($0.69) set by the BCC.
One farmer in the western town of Soubre, where prices fell, said that there were enough beans in the bush but that a weak international market was leading farmgate prices lower. On the London market, the benchmark July lost nine pounds to 764 pounds a tonne from June 14 to 20.
Below are average farmgate prices quoted by private buyers, co-operatives and shippers and published by the BCC. Included are prices paid on delivery at San Pedro and Abidjan ports.