\u201cWe\u2019re seeing more extreme weather patterns,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile some areas are getting hotter, others are experiencing prolonged dry spells, disrupting farming cycles.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This unpredictability has led to a decline in the size and quality of cocoa harvests, forcing global cocoa prices to reach unprecedented levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
West African nations like Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together account for 60% of the world\u2019s cocoa production, have been hit hardest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farmers have also struggled against the harsh Harmattan winds, which cause leaves to yellow and young cocoa pods to wither, further diminishing their yields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These regions have been hit with erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, reducing their cocoa output and rising prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This supply crisis has had an inevitable effect on cocoa prices. Over the past few years, the price of cocoa beans has surged by around 500%.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Vicky-Bain-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Until October 2023, cocoa consistently traded below $4,000 per ton, but the situation has rapidly worsened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTerrible crops in West Africa, which produces most of the world\u2019s cocoa, are primarily driving these increases,\u201d said<\/a> Anthony Gird, co-founder and director at Honest Chocolate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The diminished supply has led to fierce competition among chocolate producers, further increasing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite sourcing its cocoa from Tanzania rather than West Africa, South Africa has not been immune to the price surge. \u201cPeople are willing to pay a much higher rate because you can\u2019t get it in West Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ripple effect means South African chocolate makers, including those prioritising ethical sourcing, have seen their costs soar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe pay above the market price, but the market price is double what we used to pay in the first place,\u201d Gird said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Honest Chocolate, for example, has experienced a 140% increase in cocoa bean costs compared to last year\u2019s shipment,” he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While chocolate manufacturers have tried to absorb some of these costs, consumers have still felt the impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/chocolate-1024x576.jpg\")
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