We closely monitor global commodity markets.
Hazelnuts, almonds, sugar, cocoa beans, cocoa butter, vanilla, sultanas and much more – in short: food commodities shape the daily business of Fairtrade SA.
As a qualified partner, Fairtrade offers a comprehensive range of services, from contract handling and logistics to customs clearance and ongoing quality control of products. Its clients include chocolate and biscuit manufacturers, producers of semi-finished goods, large-scale distributors, trading companies and beverage manufacturers.
This highly dynamic industry requires not only a well-functioning global network of relationships, but also a keen sense and the experience to draw the right conclusions from current global developments. In other words, sourcing high-quality goods at the best possible price and at the right time. Fairtrade continuously monitors the commodity markets and identifies new products and suppliers that meet its high quality standards.
Smuggling between Ivory Coast and Ghana may raise African origin cocoa prices
Global cocoa futures rallied about 50% since the end of May on worries about a smaller West African harvest, due to crop disease and a strong El Niño weather pattern that could cause severe flooding or drought. Ghana’s new price would equate to roughly 75% more than in top producer Ivory Coast, which has kept pay unchanged. That could potentially cause more Ivorian beans to be smuggled out to countries such as Ghana, where prices are higher.
Smuggling has been prevalent in West Africa for decades, and has been a particular issue for Ghana and Ivory Coast — countries that tightly control their markets. Ghana had targeted 650,000 tons of output in the 2025-26 season, but deliveries actually exceeded 750,000 tons, partly because of smuggled beans from neighboring countries.
Global Cocoa Prices Have Rallied in Recent Months
