Gaps in tracing and disclosure hide supply chains risks in 52% of Ivorian cocoa

Efforts to tackle deforestation and labour rights issues linked to cocoa supply chains are hindered by major and persistent shortcomings in transparency. Accelerated investments in traceability and greater disclosures by traders are needed.

Oxford, United Kingdom (12 May, 2026) – New analysis from Trase reveals a significant transparency gap in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa exports. Only 48% of the volume exported in 2024 can be traced to specific departments of production using information publicly disclosed by trading companies. This leaves more than half (52%) of the trade hidden from public eyes, a result of indirect sourcing through intermediaries or a lack of supplier disclosure by trading companies.

A small number of traders dominate the market, the six largest accounting for 67% of all cocoa exports in 2024. The extent to which each company sources directly from disclosed cooperatives varies significantly. For example, we estimate that Barry Callebaut sources 86% of its cocoa directly from cooperatives, while Sucden directly sources about 19%.

“Cocoa supply chains in Côte d’Ivoire have driven shocking rates of forest loss, while low farm-gate prices mean most farmers do not earn a living income.This data reinforces the outsized role of a small number of traders, whose visibility and leverage in the supply chain put them in a unique position to drive change,” says Mark Titley, researcher from Trase. “By accelerating progress on traceability, disclosing where they source from, and establishing stable, long-term relationships with producers, these companies can play a key role in delivering more accountable, equitable and deforestation-free cocoa.”

Côte d’Ivoire lost or degraded 79% of its undisturbed forest between 2000 and 2024. While deforestation rates have slowed over the last decade, this is partly because the country had already lost most of its forest outside protected areas. While emissions from outright deforestation for cocoa have fallen (from 17.7 mtCO2-e  in 2014 to 2.7 mtCO2-e in 2017), cocoa expansion continues to drive additional emissions through forest degradation. 

Of the 17 companies that together exported 90% of cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire in 2024, 10 (together accounting for 76% of traded volume) had publicly disclosed zero-deforestation commitments (ZDCs) covering their global activities. 

Forest 500 [1] rankings varied among the top cocoa exporters. While Cargill and Sucden’s 2025 scores sit in the mid-range compared to other exporters, both companies still lack transparency in key areas: reporting in the case of Cargill, and implementation of commitments for Sucden.

While the EUDR has accelerated progress on traceability, significant gaps remain. The lack of data disclosure from companies on their indirect sources continues to limit visibility in cocoa supply chains, and challenges in mapping recent deforestation make it difficult to fully assess risk and ensure accountability. Addressing these data gaps will be critical for governments, researchers, and civil society working to strengthen oversight and support more sustainable production.

---

For further information, contact:

Gisele Neuls, Trase Communications Lead at Global Canopy | [email protected] | +44(0)7925 128 159

Note to editor

[1] Forest 500, a Global Canopy project, identifies the 500 companies with the greatest exposure to deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their commitments on deforestation, conversion of natural ecosystems and associated human rights.

About Trase

Trase is a data-driven transparency initiative led by Global Canopy and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). We map international trade in agricultural commodities and provide open-access data, insights, and tools that help companies, financial institutions, and governments strengthen accountability for their sustainability goals. www.trase.earth