Dec 24, 2025 – French crop trader Sucres et Denrées SA, a key buyer of cocoa, has halted its operations at the port of San Pedro in Ivory Coast, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Ivory Coast is the leading producer of cocoa globally, and many traders operate in San Pedro because it's near key growing areas. Sucden also has operations in Abidjan, the country’s commercial center, allowing them to buy cocoa beans and sell them internationally.

The shutdown in San Pedro occurs during the peak harvest season in Ivory Coast. Thomas Roche, who leads Sucden's Ivorian unit, did not provide any comments on the matter. The company’s main office in Paris has not responded to calls or emails requesting more information.

The reasons for closing this center are not clear; however, cocoa farmers and exporters in Ivory Coast have been facing significant challenges this season. After reaching record highs last year, international cocoa prices have dropped by half in 2025 due to improved harvests and decreased consumer demand for pricey chocolate.

This situation has led to ports in the country being overwhelmed with truckloads of cocoa as middlemen scramble to find buyers in the current downturn. Recently, the government allowed the cocoa industry regulator to purchase about 200,000 tons of beans from farmers—a rare action—since local exporters have incurred losses.

In the midst of this market instability, the head of cocoa at Sucden left the company earlier this year. Maurice Varsano, the son of the company's CEO, was subsequently appointed as the new head of the cocoa unit in Paris.