Ivory Coast sees strong exports of cocoa main crop

ABIDJAN/LONDON, June 3 (Reuters): Ivory Coast has sold about 1 million metric tons of cocoa in export contracts for the 2026-27 main crop, but has started to slow sales due to concerns about the impact of a looming El Nino weather pattern on output, four sources told Reuters.

The Abidjan-based Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) has also raised its premium on further sales from zero to at least £100 ($135) per ton above the futures price , according to two industry sources and two CCC sources.

The moves by the world's biggest cocoa producer point to firming demand for the chocolate ingredient and an expected tighter market when the new season begins on September 1.

"We have already sold between 950,000 and 1 million tons for next season, but we preferred to slow down and be cautious. We are selling less and less," one of the CCC sources said.