COCOA smuggling between Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea has escalated to alarming levels, with an estimated 50,000 metric tonnes – valued at approximately $573 million – illegally transported across the border from October to December 2024, according to exporters. This surge in illegal trade has been fuelled by rising cocoa prices, which more than doubled in 2024, providing smugglers with a lucrative incentive.
Cocoa prices and smuggling surge
The illegal cocoa trade involves transporting cocoa from Cote d’Ivoire, where it is bought at a fixed price of CFA1,800 per kilogram, across the border into Guinea. Once there, it is exported to Asian markets, including Indonesia and Malaysia, where the smuggled cocoa fetches CFA5,000 ($7.95) per kilogram – significantly higher than the official market price.
Exporters warn that the smuggling is threatening their ability to meet contracts, as suppliers increasingly favour the higher profits from illicit trade. ‘Our suppliers prefer smuggling, which is much more profitable, and I understand them,’ said one exporter based in Abidjan.
Smuggling risks and government action
The massive scale of the smuggling is causing serious concerns for Cote d’Ivoire’s cocoa industry. In December, it was reported that 8,500 tonnes of cocoa crossed the border in a single day. This has left exporters fearing they may not have the required volumes to fulfil their international contracts.
The cocoa price surge in late 2024, which hit a record $12,931 per metric tonne in New York, has further incentivized smugglers. Poor crop forecasts for Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, two of the world’s largest cocoa producers, are expected to exacerbate the situation.
In response to the growing issue, Cote d’Ivoire’s government has ramped up anti-smuggling efforts, including confiscating the proceeds of illegal activities, suspending driving licenses, and withdrawing passports. The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) is also exploring additional measures to combat smuggling, but the situation remains a serious challenge to the sector.
