Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions fell from July 17 to 23, Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) data showed on Tuesday, as middlemen who have met seasonal buying targets ease off the search for beans.
In the southern region of Divo where average prices fell 20 CFA francs ($0.038) per kg to 285 CFA, one co-operative manager said there were fewer buyers in the area as the mid crop season, which should surpass initial output estimates, draws to an end.
"We are practically at the end of the season. There aren't many buyers in the bush because many of them have already met their buying targets for the season," Kouame said. He said there was still some cocoa available in the region but that quality was sometimes poor.