Togo opens 2026-27 coffee and cocoa marketing season amid slower exports
Togo has opened its 2026-27 coffee and cocoa marketing season as producers and buyers contend with weaker global prices and unsold stocks. The government is prioritising higher yields on existing farms, backed by a CFA23.25 billion development programme.
New season begins in Kpalimé
Togo’s Coffee and Cocoa Sector Coordination Committee, or CCFCC, launched the country’s 2026-27 coffee and cocoa marketing season on Friday in Kpalimé. The opening sets the commercial framework for two longstanding cash-crop industries that remain important sources of income for farming communities, particularly in the Plateaux region.
Coffee and cocoa are among Togo’s principal agricultural exports after cotton. Production of both crops is concentrated mainly in the Plateaux region, making the area central to the country’s collection, processing and purchasing networks. According to figures from the Directorate of Agricultural Statistics reported by AllAfrica, the two industries contribute 1.4% of gross domestic product and 5.5% of the agricultural sector. They provide income to nearly 40,000 producers farming more than 72,000 hectares.
Export growth meets a weaker world market
Recent export data show a sharp expansion in marketed volumes. During the 2023-24 season, Togo exported 2,618 tonnes of coffee and 11,182 tonnes of cocoa. In 2024-25, shipments increased to 4,400 tonnes of coffee and 24,000 tonnes of cocoa. AllAfrica described the increase as approximately 50% across the two industries, although the reported tonnage changes differ between coffee and cocoa.
The momentum has proved vulnerable to international price movements. In January 2026, farm-gate prices were around CFA1,800 per kilogram for coffee and between CFA1,500 and CFA1,800 per kilogram for cocoa. A subsequent fall in global prices substantially slowed exports, exposing producers, traders and buyers to a less favourable sales environment.
The change was particularly visible in cocoa. More than 10,000 tonnes had been exported by the end of January 2025, compared with approximately 5,000 tonnes at the same point in 2026. According to the CCFCC, the slowdown resulted in an accumulation of about 1,500 tonnes of unsold stocks. That inventory creates a practical challenge for the new season because market participants must handle existing supplies while fresh production enters commercial channels.
Higher yields without expanding farmland
Togo’s response centres on increasing the density and productivity of existing plantations rather than expanding the cultivated area. The objective is to raise yields without worsening deforestation. This approach places farm rehabilitation, planting density and production performance at the centre of sector policy while limiting pressure to clear additional land.
The strategy forms part of the Coffee and Cocoa Sector Development Plans, known as PDCC, adopted in 2024 in partnership with the European Union. The plans have a projected cost of CFA23.25 billion and cover productivity, market access, environmental issues and financing. Their effectiveness will matter to farmers seeking better yields and to buyers that require reliable volumes and consistent access to marketable beans.
Marketing controls remain part of the framework
The CCFCC has also strengthened field inspections and expanded measures against smuggling. These controls are intended to improve oversight of the marketing chain, an important consideration when price differences can divert crops away from formal purchasing channels.
The 2026-27 opening therefore comes after strong growth in recorded exports but during a period of slower sales and accumulated cocoa stocks. For producers and commercial operators, the season will test whether productivity measures, market access initiatives and tighter supervision can support formal trade while global prices remain the main immediate constraint on shipment pace.
