Ivory Coast, Ghana cocoa output lower than expected in 2015-16

BAVARO: Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world's top cocoa growers, will produce less cocoa than previously expected in the 2015-16 season, an executive at the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) said at an industry conference on Tuesday.

Ivory Coast is expected to produce 1.65 million tonnes of cocoa in 2015-16, down from a previous forecast of 1.69 million tonnes, and well short of the 1.796 million tonnes grown in the prior season, said Laurent Pipitone, ICCO's director of policy and statistical analysis.

The ICCO estimated Ghana will grow 800,000 tonnes of cocoa in 2015-16, down from its prior estimate of 840,000 tonnes.

That is above the 740,000 tonnes produced in the prior crop year.