Cocoa price jumps to GH₵3,625 from GH₵3,225 per bag for 2025/26 season

The government has announced a ₵400 increase per 64kg bag of cocoa for the 2025/2026 crop season, raising the producer price from ₵3,225 to ₵3,625.

At an emergency press conference in Accra, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson explained that the upward adjustment is aimed at improving the welfare of cocoa farmers.

“This means that for every bag sold, farmers will now receive an additional ₵400. Simply put, the ordinary cocoa farmer takes home ₵3,625 per bag,” he said.

The minister added that the government will continue to monitor international market trends and take decisions that benefit farmers.

The adjustment follows recommendations by the Producer Price Review Committee after reviewing updated government forecasts.

According to Bloomberg, Ghana’s cocoa deliveries to warehouses in August more than quadrupled compared to the same period last year, as the early start of the season provided farmers with quick cash and boosted supply, easing global prices.

This year, Ghana began its cocoa season in August, two months earlier than usual, to address farmers’ concerns.

In the first four weeks ending September 4, arrivals reached 50,440 metric tons, up from about 11,000 tons in 2024.

As the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana recently raised the price paid to farmers by 4.2% to ₵3,228.75 ($261) per bag in the 2025/26 season.

The move is expected to discourage smuggling to neighbouring countries offering higher prices.

Global markets are closely monitoring West African supplies following several years of poor harvests that created a severe shortage and pushed New York cocoa futures to record highs.

While analysts expect a small surplus in the 2024/25 season, the market remains tight and prices are still well above historic levels.

Most of Ghana’s cocoa is exported, though a portion goes to local processors.

The government has projected a 650,000-ton harvest for 2025/26, up from 600,000 tons in the previous season.