Cocoa industry updates: FMO invests in Côte d’Ivoire while Cameroon processing declines

The Dutch development bank FMO has provided a 20 million euro working capital facility to Ivory Cocoa Products (ICP), a major local cocoa processor in Côte d’Ivoire. The four-year financing, which includes a 15 million euro committed tranche and a 5 million euro uncommitted tranche, aims to secure the supply of high-quality beans from sustainable practices amid global market volatility.

ICP, based in San Pedro, currently possesses a processing capacity of approximately 90,000 tonnes. This investment marks FMO’s third engagement with the company since 2019, supporting local transformation into semi-finished products like cocoa butter and liquor to retain more economic value within Côte d’Ivoire.

In contrast, cocoa processing in Cameroon saw a decline during the 2025-2026 campaign. According to the Office National du Cacao et du Café (ONCC), industrial and artisanal grinding fell by 13.08% to 95,946 tonnes, down from 110,388 tonnes the previous year. This decline occurred alongside a 20% drop in marketed production, which fell to 247,914 tonnes.