Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions were mixed from July 24 to 30, Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) data showed on Tuesday as demand fell for fast-diminishing but good quality cocoa stocks.
In the western region of Daloa, producing about a quarter of output in the world's top cocoa grower, BCC figures showed an 80 CFA franc jump in the average price to 310 CFA per kg ($0.156), but farmers said the rise in prices was actually a lot smaller.
"The price may have risen in some zones but not by that much," said farmer Attoungbre Kouame, who said rates varied between 200 and 250 CFA per kg during the week.
"There is very little cocoa on sale and competition is weak because there are none of the bigger buyers (seeking cocoa)," he said, adding quality was good and beans were well dried.
Further south, in the Gagnoa region, the average price fell 45 CFA francs to 270 which buyer Francois Badiel put down to the same lack of buyers in his region.