Togo’s Coffee, Cocoa Committee Urges “Shared Sacrifice” as Prices Plunge

Economic governance

Thursday, 29 January 2026 11:49

Togo’s Coffee, Cocoa Committee Urges “Shared Sacrifice” as Prices Plunge

(Togo First) - A sharp decline in international coffee and cocoa prices is weighing heavily on the Togolese economy. These two commodities are major export products for the country.

The situation has led to the buildup of approximately 1,500 tonnes of unsold stocks, according to the Coordination Committee for the Coffee and Cocoa Sectors (CCFCC).

The CCFCC held a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Lomé. The gathering brought together producers, buyers, exporters and processors to identify the root causes of the crisis and explore possible solutions. According to the stakeholders present, the accumulation of unsold stocks is mainly due to the sudden collapse in prices, which has brought commercial transactions to a standstill.

Prices have fallen sharply within a few months. They have dropped from around 5,000 CFA Francs to nearly 2,000 today. This steep decline has left many operators with significant volumes of unsold coffee and cocoa.

Enselme Gouthon, secretary general of the Coordination Committee for the Coffee and Cocoa Sectors, said this price volatility stems from the surge recorded the previous year.

“Prices had risen sharply due to lower production in the main producing countries, notably Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana,” Gouthon explained.

He said this underperformance was linked to the effects of climate change, as well as the aging of plantations and producers.

“Today, prices have gone from 600 FCFA per kilogram to 200 FCFA, or even less on the market,” Gouthon added.

As of Jan. 28, 2025, more than 10,000 tonnes of cocoa beans had already been exported by Togo. On the same date in 2026, exports are limited to approximately 5,000 tonnes. This illustrates the scale of the slowdown in exports.

The Committee is calling on all links in the value chain to make short-term efforts.

“Producers, buyers and exporters must agree to lose a little in order to release existing stocks and restore smooth trading conditions,” the CCFCC recommended.

This concerted approach should allow for a gradual resumption of trade and help stabilize the sector.

Esaïe Edoh

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