CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas Through 14 June 2025

West Africa.  Rain has been accelerating across the cocoa areas of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. While an increase is normal during Jun, which is the seasonal peak for rain, the amounts reported by Veriground stations in some areas are approaching the levels of 2023 that caused losses to the 23/24 crop. Most of the increase so far has been on the coast. Youwasso on the SW coast reports 384 mm during the past 30 days. San Pedro reports 338 mm. The middle chart at right shows reports from the SW coast. Stations inland report less, but many reports approach 200 mm and a few reports exceed 200 mm. Most stations in the northern cocoa areas report less than 100 mm in the latest 30 days, but one north of Man reports 277 mm and Bongouanou in the east reports 204 mm.  In Ghana, stations on the SW coast report less than 100 mm in the past 30 days except in the far SW where Nyamebekyere reports 162 mm, which corresponds with neighboring Aboisso in Côte d’Ivoire, which reports 160 mm. However, reports from some stations inland report almost 200 mm and several report amounts above 300 mm.

With the increased rain, humidity has risen and temperatures have declined slightly. Temperatures remain high relative to the past five years of reports at Veriground stations.

Heavy rain probably will continue for several weeks. The ITZ in the region of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana has been lagging slightly behind its average position for early Jun. The center of West African rain therefore probably will continue to be over the cocoa area through Jun.

Weather in other cocoa origins has been close to normal. NOAA expects the ENSO to stay close to normal or drift toward a La Niña in late 2025.