Cocoa Prices Soar Amid Climate and Crop Crises in West Africa

August 12, 2025 – Global cocoa prices have surged to record highs in recent months, driven by severe climate disruptions and crop diseases devastating key growing regions in West Africa, where nearly 70% of the world’s cocoa is produced.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, the top two cocoa-producing countries, are facing unprecedented challenges. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures—linked to climate change—have severely impacted cocoa yields. Compounding the problem is the spread of swollen shoot virus, a highly contagious plant disease that kills cocoa trees and has wiped out large swaths of farmland.

As a result, global cocoa supply is falling far short of demand, sending futures prices to historic levels and sparking concern among chocolate manufacturers and consumers alike. Many producers are warning of higher retail prices and potential shortages in the coming months.

Industry analysts say the situation highlights the fragility of global food supply chains in the face of climate change and underscores the need for sustainable farming investments and crop disease management in vulnerable regions.

Without intervention, experts warn that future cocoa harvests—and the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers—could be at even greater risk.