West African Cocoa Prices Rise Amid Quality Concerns, Smuggling Surge

India's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has solidified its status as a key global hub for mango exports, handling 3,624 metric tonnes in April and May 2025 with a 9% year-on-year increase, primarily serving markets in London, Toronto, and New York through advanced cold-chain logistics. In West Africa, favorable weather is boosting optimism for cocoa production in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the mid-crop season, though concerns about diseases like black pod persist, affecting crop quality and market supply. Ghana's cocoa sector has shown a significant recovery with 3.4% growth in Q1 2025 after six quarters of contraction, signaling a positive shift amid stabilizing global demand, supported by sector-wide agricultural growth. Nevertheless, smuggling of cocoa from Ivory Coast into Guinea has increased as high prices incentivize illicit trade routes to bypass official checkpoints. Meanwhile, Nigeria has experienced a staggering over 3,000% increase in cocoa export revenue over five years, primarily driven by a weaker naira rather than increased production, highlighting currency effects on export earnings amid regional production challenges. These developments illustrate dynamic shifts in global agricultural exports, influenced by infrastructure, weather, market demand, and economic factors across different regions.