Cocoa arrivals at ports in Ivory Coast reached 1.333 million tonnes between October 1, 2005 and September 3, 2006, according to a rough estimate by major exporters on Monday. That compared with around 1.290 million tonnes delivered to ports in the same period of the 2004/05 season, industry data showed.
The figures showed around 7,500 tonnes arrived at ports between August 28 and September 3, several thousand tonnes more than had been trickling to the ports in previous weeks as the April-September mid crop season tails off.
Exporters often give merchants large cash advances to buy cocoa in the bush on their behalf and they said the rise in cocoa arrivals this week was due to the buyers delivering beans to balance their accounts with shippers.
"Quite a few merchants had built up stocks in the bush that they are sending to clear what they owe to exporters," said the director of a European exporter based in Abidjan.
"That's why we had a good deal more cocoa last week compared to other weeks and it should continue this week," he said, adding most of the cocoa was being delivered to San Pedro rather than Abidjan port.