CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas Through 11 April 2025

West Africa. Rain in the cocoa areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana continues to follow the typical progress of recent years. In Côte d’Ivoire, Veriground stations reported 84 mm average per site during the latest 30 days compared to past amounts of 74-131 mm on matching days of the previous five years. Of 73 sites, 55 reported rain in the latest 10 days and 66 reported some rain in the latest 20 days.  In Ghana, Veriground

stations reported 69 mm during the latest 30 days compared to 39-101 mm during recent years. Thirty-seven of 44 sites have seen rain at least once in the latest 10 days, and 43 reported some rain in the latest 20 days. In Nigeria, Europe’s ERA5 satellite monitoring shows rain spreading northward into the western cocoa area at a rate like that in Ghana.

Forecasts: Rain is forecast to decrease during the coming week in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Other areas. Heavy rain still is falling heavily at Veriground sites in Ecuador. In the latest 30 days, rain at one Veriground site east of Guayaquil received 478 mm. Monthly amounts above 250 mm have been common. Ecuador’s national station at Guayaquil agrees that rain in that area has approached 500 mm. Rain north and south of Guayaquil also has been substantial. All Veriground stations report at least 150 mm in the latest 30 days. Residents have not heard of problems with the cocoa crop. Rain in Peru’s cocoa area cycled around normal during the latest six months. In Brazil, rain near Bahia’s cocoa area has cycled around normal. Rain in Para also has cycled around normal. Rain in Sulawesi has been exceeding normal by about 15% with wide fluctuations. ENSO. NOAA in its report for Apr considers that ENSO-neutral conditions are now present and will continue through the Northern Hemisphere summer.