Rains in Ivory Coast's cocoa-growing areas were below average in the second 10 days of July and analysts said weather conditions were not favourable at a crucial time for the development of this year's main crop.
"There was a deficit of rain during the period in all regions, which is generally not positive for the development of a good cocoa crop," said one meteorologist based in Abidjan, He was commenting on official rainfall data released by the national weather service Sodexam.
A crop analyst based in the central town of Daloa, which produces a quarter of total output in the world's top cocoa grower, said there were fewer flowers and small pods on trees in the area than last year because of insufficient rains.