Cocoa beans market in Africa

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, cocoa bean production in Africa showed moderate fluctuations, starting at 3.8 million tonnes. Disease outbreaks, such as swollen shoot, limited yield growth in 2019, while the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted export logistics, increasing domestic market volume to 1.4 million tonnes. Production reached 4.0 million tonnes in 2021, supported by enhanced quality controls and traceability systems implemented by Ivorian authorities.

The market shifted from 2022, with production declining to 3.8 million tonnes that year. In 2023, extreme weather conditions associated with El Niño, combined with the persistent spread of swollen shoot disease, led to a sharp contraction in output to 3.3 million tonnes. This supply shortage reduced the African market volume to 927 thousand tonnes and triggered historically high global cocoa prices, reflecting the ongoing challenges of ageing plantations and climatic volatility.

Production cocoa beans in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cocoa beans, 2017-2020

World map of production of cocoa beans, 2017-2020

In 2020, Africa produced 3,886 thousand tonnes of cocoa beans, marking a 3.7% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of cocoa bean production in Africa reached $9,651 million, representing a 10.9% rise from the year before. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 12.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.0%. The largest drop was recorded in 2019, at 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports cocoa beans from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's cocoa bean exports declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports totaled 2,454 thousand tonnes, showing a significant decrease of 11.7% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 5%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.7%. The highest export volume was recorded in 2018 at 2,835 thousand tonnes, with the largest increase that year of 9.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Africa's cocoa bean exports in volume terms were not heavily concentrated in a few key markets. The Netherlands accounted for 27.5% of exports, the United States for 11.6%, and Malaysia for 10.2%, with these three countries together making up 49.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Cocoa bean exports from Africa in value terms also declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to $6,094 million, reflecting a modest decrease of 5.6% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 2.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.0%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at $6,601 million, when exports saw their largest increase of 11.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The structure of cocoa bean exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 can be described as diversified. The Netherlands represented 25.5% of export value, Malaysia 12.9%, and the United States 11.5%, with these three countries collectively accounting for 49.9% of total flows, and no single country holding a clearly dominant position.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Africa in value, 2017-2020

Imports cocoa beans to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Africa's cocoa bean imports increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 6 thousand tonnes, showing a sharp rise of 64.2% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 138.9%, with an average annual increase of 33.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 6 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 7.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Peru, Haiti, and Ecuador remained the main suppliers of cocoa beans to Africa in volume terms. Peru accounted for 8.1% of imports, Haiti for 3.3%, and Ecuador for 2.9%, with these three countries together forming 14.3% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

The import market showed signs of volatility during the observed period. In 2020, cocoa bean imports into Africa amounted to $49 million, representing an abrupt advance of 89.9% compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at $17 million, which also saw the largest decline of 13.2%. Overall, imports peaked in 2020 and reached their lowest point in 2018, with a 2.9-fold difference between these years.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Africa in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Peru, Haiti, and Ecuador stood out as the main sources for cocoa bean imports in value terms. Peru accounted for 8.6% of import value, Haiti for 3.6%, and Ecuador for 3.1%, with these three countries together representing 15.4% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Africa in value, 2017-2020