Cocoa farmgate rise on strong demand

Cocoa farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's cocoa growing regions rose last week, Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) figures showed on Friday, amid strong demand from grinders and exporters. Prices for the West African state's main export have been rising slowly but steadily since April and the end of a violent four-month power struggle that killed thousands and brought the economy to its knees.
In the coastal region of San Pedro, BCC figures showed the average farmgate price jumped to 700 CFA francs ($1.51) per kg from 660 CFA francs the previous week.