Cocoa Supply & EU Rules: Ivory Coast’s Coffee and Cocoa Council warns a delayed 2026/27 main cocoa crop could trigger Abidjan and San Pedro port congestion in Nov–Dec as exporters rush ahead of stricter EU deforestation rules. Cocoa Quality & Prices: Cocoa futures jumped on concerns over West African crop quality, with black pod disease linked to poor sunshine and early surveys pointing to weaker Ivory Coast harvest prospects. Agro-Processing Investment: Olam Agri completed its acquisition of Asia Africa Rubber Industry, adding 176,000 tons of annual rubber processing capacity in Ivory Coast and boosting traceable supply for global buyers. Industrialisation Benchmark: The AfDB Africa Industrialisation Index puts Morocco top and lifts Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire into the top 10, signalling a shift in Africa’s industrial geography. Energy Access: New analysis says Africa is on track to install 17GW of solar in 2026, while off-grid solar mini-grids are flagged as crucial for Francophone West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire. Textiles & Fashion: Abidjan hosted the 7th Ivorian Traditional Fabric Days, spotlighting weavers and designers, while broader fashion coverage highlights how African creators are reshaping global perceptions. Gold & Mining Finance: Allied Gold and Zijin Gold abandoned a $4bn takeover but Zijin injected $295m via a private placement, keeping exposure to Allied’s Bonikro project. Seeds Trade: West Africa is pushing to speed up regional movement of certified seeds, tackling uneven mutual recognition across ECOWAS. Cocoa Integrity: A study finds manipulated data in at least one in four cocoa traceability audits in Ivory Coast, raising pressure ahead of delayed EUDR implementation. Shipping Constraints: Dangote Cement says it may buy its own cargo ships after failing to secure vessels for cement exports to Ghana, underlining West Africa’s logistics bottleneck. Regional Solar/Power Context: Nigeria’s electricity tariff is reported as the lowest among selected African markets in 2025, with Ivory Coast also cited among the lower-tariff countries.