Ivory Coast cocoa buyers struggle with new EU-mandated traceability system

Ivory Coast's cocoa sector is facing a rocky start to the 2026/27 season as buyers, cooperatives, and field agents grapple with a newly mandated national traceability system. The system is designed to ensure the country's cocoa exports comply with upcoming European Union regulations that ban imports of commodities cultivated on land deforested after a certain date.

The EU's anti-deforestation rules are set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Since Ivory Coast supplies roughly 70% of its cocoa to Europe, compliance is critical. The country itself accounts for about 40% of global cocoa production, meaning any significant disruption to its export flow could influence world prices.

To meet the new standards, the sector's regulator, the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC), has mandated that all purchases from the start of the season on September 1 be conducted using an electronic producer card. This card is intended to provide full traceability of the beans from farm to export.

However, exporters report that the transition is not going smoothly. A key problem is that many cooperatives and field agents have not yet mastered the digital purchasing tools. "The CCC has been raising awareness since March, but people are still surprised and don't know how to use the digital tools," noted a director at a European export company in Abidjan.

Logistical hurdles are also slowing operations in rural areas. Exporters say that many suppliers have not received essential equipment like payment terminals, bags, and seals. This shortage is extending the time needed to complete purchases and is delaying deliveries to ports.

The CCC maintains that it has finished installing payment terminals and is distributing equipment based on purchase volumes from the previous season, having acquired 20,000 new terminals. CCC Director Yves Brahima Kone acknowledged the difficulties but downplayed their severity, stating that purchases are expected to accelerate over time and that the agency will address issues as they arise. He expressed confidence that the system will be fully operational within a few months.