Cocoa price comparisons between the world’s two leading producers have gained attention following Ghana’s February price cut in response to global market shifts. Shortly after, Ivory Coast also reduced its producer price. The central question is: which country imposed the steeper cut, and which pays farmers more?
Currently, Ghana offers a higher cocoa producer price than its neighbor Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer. On March 4, 2026, Ivory Coast’s Cocoa and Coffee Council (Le Conseil du Café-Cacao) announced a new producer price of 1,200 CFA francs, representing a 57% drop from last year’s 2,800 CFA francs. By contrast, Ghana’s earlier reduction still leaves its farmers earning nearly 44% more than those in Ivory Coast.
The move by Ivory Coast was widely expected due to a slump in the world market price of the commodity, with Reuters reporting of the new figure (1,200 CFA franc), citing government sources. In mid February 2026, Ghana took a similar decision to cut the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,228.75 to GH¢ 2,587 per 64kg bag.
The numbers
This marks the first time Ghana has reduced its cocoa producer price mid-season. Ivory Coast, by contrast, traditionally sets two prices each year to cover both the main and interim harvests. As Yahoo Finance noted, “The Ivorian government sets the price of cocoa paid to its producers twice a year, but its latest announcement comes a month earlier than usual. The sector accounts for 14 percent of the West African country’s gross domestic product, and around five million people depend on it for their livelihood.
Cocoa price computation
Cocoa prices are calculated at three levels. Per kilogramme, per 64kg bag and per tonne. Ghana’s price is usually announced with the 64kg bag while Ivory Coast announced per kilogramme.
Source: https://ghanafact.com/
