CRA: Weather in Cocoa Growing Areas to 1 August 2025

West Africa. Rain has been very light since CRA’s last report for 27 Feb. No cocoa region of Côte d’Ivoire or Ghana cocoa has reported significant rain with an exception of Man in northwest Côte d’Ivoire and two sites in Ghana. Cumulative 2025 rain at Veriground stations in Côte d’Ivoire has been about 90% of the average seen in the preceding five years. Cumulative rain in Ghana has been similar. Humidity has stayed around 90% in Côte d’Ivoire and 83% in Ghana, and high temperature have been cool. This probably means that the cocoa regions have been often overcast.

Forecasts see rain returning on 4 Aug, lasting about two days, and reaching most Veriground sites. Rain at some sites might be heavy. Crop news from Ghana indicates average development for the 25/26 main crop. Development in Côte d’Ivoire is behind that of Ghana. Trees there are carrying about 10% fewer pods than trees in Ghana.

Reports of the WMO from Ibadan, Nigeria, on the western side of Nigeria’s western cocoa area, indicate abundant rain during mid Jun and early-to-mid July that since has ended. Residents judge that weather conditions for the 24/25 main crop have been good.

Other areas. Rain in Ecuador remains about nil, which is typical for the season. Due to good rain early in 2025, cumulative totals are ahead of normal. In Brazil, the 30-day total near Bahia’s cocoa area has returned to normal due to abundant rain at the end of Jul. Cocoa in Para has been receiving more rain than typical for Jun-Jul. Rain in Peru’s cocoa area has stopped when amounts should be 10 mm per 10 days. Cumulative rain for 2025 is about 90% of normal. Sulawesi rain of recent weeks also has slowed and was about half of normal in the latest 10 days. Half still is 20 mm in 10 days, which is sufficient for cocoa for a few weeks. The 2025 cumulative exceeds normal. ENSO. Unchanged. NOAA‘s Jul assessment sees neutral conditions through Oct, perhaps drifting toward a mild La Niña thereafter.  NOAA’s August report should appear in about a week.