International Cocoa Organisation

What International Cocoa Organisation does

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is an inter-governmental organization established in 1973 under the auspices of the United Nations and operating within the framework of successive International Cocoa Agreements (1973, 1975, 1986, 1993, 2001, 2010, with a 2026 successor in process). Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, ICCO coordinates international cocoa policy between cocoa-producing (exporting) member countries and cocoa-consuming (importing) member countries — including the European Union and Switzerland — through the International Cocoa Council, the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy, and supporting committees. Its statutory mandate covers market transparency, sector sustainability, capacity building, and convening of the global cocoa value chain.

The organization's core "products" are information assets and convenings rather than technology platforms. The flagship statistical publication is the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics (QBCS), distributed via annual subscription in digital Excel, PDF, printed, and combined formats with up to 15 years of historical data; this is complemented by the Monthly Cocoa Market Report and references such as the World Cocoa Directory and the Pesticide Use in Cocoa – Practical Manual (4th edition). The product surface is completed by flagship events — the World Cocoa Conference (held in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024, with WCC 2027 in planning) and the International Symposium on Cocoa Research (Lima 2017, Montpellier 2022) — which function as the sector's primary global forums.

Revenue is generated through four streams: member-country membership fees, QBCS and other publication subscriptions sold via the icco.org online shop, conference/event registration and sponsorship, and project funding/grants from member governments and development partners. Distribution is anchored on direct engagement with member-country governments, supplemented by the e-commerce storefront and recurring events. The organization does not offer a SaaS platform, public API, or AI-driven analytics; technical and data infrastructure is centered on the website, member/consultative-board portals, and convention-event logistics. Reported scale signals include approximately 500 participants from 37 countries at ISCR 2017, ~70 regional participants at the 2015 Accra seminar, and global membership across producing and consuming blocs.</ <invoke name="save_investment_analysis"> <parameter name="company">International Cocoa Organisation

Name

International Cocoa Organisation

Legal name

ICCO – International Cocoa Organization

Website

https://icco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a UN-affiliated inter-governmental body, established in 1973 and headquartered in Abidjan, that provides global cocoa market statistics, policy coordination, and sustainability initiatives to cocoa-producing and cocoa-consuming member countries.</ <invoke name="save_investment_analysis"> <parameter name="company">International Cocoa Organisation

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Commodity Organization & Market Statistics

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD), Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

Keywords

• Cocoa market statistics
• International commodity organization
• Cocoa industry publications
• Cocoa policy coordination
• Sustainable cocoa economy

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Member countries pay fees to participate in the organization and access ICCO services, governance, and resources.
2. Publications and subscriptions: Sale of Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics (QBCS) and other publications. QBCS offered as annual subscription in multiple formats (digital Excel, PDF, printed, or combined).
3. Conference and event revenue: Registration fees, exhibition stands, and sponsorship packages from World Cocoa Conferences and International Symposiums on Cocoa Research.
4. Project funding and grants: Funding from member governments, development partners, and industry supporters for capacity building and development projects.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ICCO is an inter-governmental organization that publishes authoritative global cocoa market statistics, including the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics and monthly market reviews, and coordinates international cocoa policy among cocoa-producing and cocoa-consuming member countries under successive International Cocoa Agreements. It also convenes major industry gatherings such as the World Cocoa Conference and the International Symposium on Cocoa Research.

Product overview

The International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) operates as an inter-governmental organization providing a portfolio of information products and services for the global cocoa sector. The core offerings include statistical publications (Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Monthly Market Reports), industry events (World Cocoa Conference, International Symposium on Cocoa Research), and specialized publications (World Cocoa Directory, Pesticide Manual). These products and services are distributed through the organization's website and e-commerce shop, serving cocoa-producing and consuming countries, industry stakeholders, and researchers. The organization does not offer a SaaS platform or API-based products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics (QBCS) Quarterly statistical publication providing world cocoa production, grindings, stocks, and trade data. Published in February, May, August, and November, with historical data spanning up to 15 years. Available as an annual subscription in digital Excel, PDF, printed, or combined formats.
• Cocoa Market Review (Monthly) Monthly market analysis report covering cocoa price trends, supply-demand dynamics, and market outlook for the global cocoa economy.
• World Cocoa Conference (WCC) World's premier cocoa gathering bringing together government officials, industry stakeholders, and civil society to discuss production, trade, processing, and marketing of cocoa. Held periodically since 2012, with editions in Abidjan (2012), Amsterdam (2014), Bavaro (2016), Berlin (2018), and Brussels (2024).
• International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR) Scientific symposium series providing a global platform for cocoa researchers to share findings and foster collaboration. Editions held in Lima (2017) and Montpellier (2022), with hundreds of international researchers participating.
• World Cocoa Directory Comprehensive directory of cocoa industry contacts, organizations, and stakeholders worldwide.
• Pesticide Use in Cocoa - Practical Manual Technical manual providing guidance on pesticide use in cocoa cultivation, currently in its fourth edition.
• Cost & Benefit Analysis of EU and US Regulatory Changes for Organic Production Analysis report examining regulatory impacts on organic cocoa production in major EU and US markets.
• Feasibility Study on Africa Cocoa Exchange (AfCX) Feasibility study for establishing an Africa Cocoa Exchange commodity trading platform.
• World Cocoa Conference 2027 (WCC6) Upcoming 6th edition of the World Cocoa Conference scheduled for the second half of 2027, with the call for host country bids currently open.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026UNCTAD serves as the parent UN body for the International Cocoa Agreement. The United Nations Cocoa Conference 2026 was held in Geneva under UNCTAD auspices, with the Secretary-General of UNCTAD formally involved in the conference opening. ICCO operates within the framework of successive International Cocoa Agreements negotiated under UN auspices.
• Government of PerumajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2017Jointly organized the International Symposium on Cocoa Research 2017 in Lima, Peru. The Government of Peru, a country with rich history in fine and flavour cocoa, provided gracious hospitality and hosted the event.
• Indonesian Ministry of TrademajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2015Generously supported and hosted the ICCO cocoa futures market and econometrics seminar held in Bali, Indonesia in August 2015.
• ICE Education Ltd (part of ICE Futures Europe)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2015Delivered the futures market module at the Bali seminar through Mr. John Fry, Training Delivery Manager, covering cocoa supply chain risks, futures contracts, hedging strategies.
• Ghana Cocoa BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2015Co-sponsored and co-organized the Accra project preparation seminar alongside Afreximbank. The Ghana Cocoa Board hosted the event and its CEO officially opened the seminar.
• African Capacity Building FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2015Contributed presenter Dr. Coffi Noumon to the Accra project preparation seminar.
• SwisscontactsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2015Contributed presenter Ms. Teresa Widmer to the Accra project preparation seminar.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• World Cocoa Foundation: Industry-led cocoa association convening chocolate companies and supply-chain actors on sustainability; overlaps ICCO's sustainability mandate from a private-sector angle rather than intergovernmental one.
• International Cocoa Initiative: Non-profit foundation focused on child labor and sustainable livelihoods in cocoa; addresses a subset of ICCO's sustainability mandate through targeted programs and reporting.
• LMC International: Private commodity research and analytics firm covering agricultural soft commodities including cocoa; competes with ICCO's statistical and market-analysis publications via paid subscription research.

Others

• Common Fund for Commodities: UN-affiliated intergovernmental financial institution that funds commodity-sector projects including cocoa; thematic peer for ICCO's project-funding stream and development mandate.
• Mintec: Commercial provider of commodity price data and analytics with cocoa coverage; adjacent competitor in the data layer where ICCO's QBCS and daily price index currently lead.

Direct peers

• International Olive Council: Intergovernmental organization for olive oil and table olives with member-driven governance, statistical publications, and international standards work, mirroring ICCO's structure and information-product model.
• International Sugar Organization: Intergovernmental organization for sugar analogous to ICCO — funded by member-country contributions, producing statistical bulletins, administering international agreements, and convening industry stakeholders.
• International Grains Council: Intergovernmental body for grains serving both exporting and importing member governments with market information, grain trade monitoring, and policy coordination — directly comparable mandate and structure to ICCO.
• International Coffee Organization: Intergovernmental body for coffee operating under successive International Coffee Agreements, providing the closest structural analog to ICCO with member-country funding, statistical publications, and policy coordination for a soft commodity.

Broad incumbents

• UNCTAD: Parent UN body under whose auspices ICCO operates and through which the United Nations Cocoa Conference 2026 was convened; broader trade-and-development mandate that hosts and empowers ICCO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/intlcocoaorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCP9c5dQRwPFeURWoc0QSkFw/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-cocoa-organization-icco
• Instagraminstagram.com/intlcocoaorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/IntlCocoaOrg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Cocoa Organisation