Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions were mixed from April 11 to 17, data from the BCC marketing body showed on Tuesday as more buyers on the ground increased competition while prices at ports fell. In the western town of Daloa, producing around a quarter of output in the world's top cocoa grower, the average price rose 15 CFA francs per kg to 325, and one farmer told Reuters more buyers were chasing the region's beans. "I've seen there are more buyers here now. Some have started working again after they stopped (in the wait for the mid crop harvest to begin," said farmer Magloire Gnankan.
"At the moment, there's a bit of cocoa available compared to a few weeks ago and that's attracting buyers. The quality of beans has also improved," he said.
In the eastern region of Aboisso, the average price shed 10 CFA francs per kg to 335 during the period, and one farmer said the fall was the knock-on effect of buyers being paid less at Abidjan's port.