Cocoa arrivals at ports in Ivory Coast reached around 907,000 tonnes between October 1 and March 26, exporters contacted by Reuters estimated on Monday, and they expected mid-crop beans to boost arrivals within days.
That compared with 893,509 tonnes delivered to ports during the same period of the previous season, industry data showed.
The figures, which differ from a weekly aggregated industry estimate based on purchases by all exporting companies based in Ivory Coast, showed that around 7,000 tonnes of cocoa arrived at ports during the week of March 20-26.
He added that total arrivals during the 2005/06 main crop, which ends officially on Friday, would be around the same level as last year's. Initial hopes of a bumper main crop faded in the latter stages of the season when production unexpectedly fell.
The first April-September mid-crop beans are now being harvested ahead of the intermediate season's official start on April 1 but need to undergo around two weeks of fermentation and drying before they can be sold on and delivered to the ports.