Market research

Cocoa beans market in Southern Asia

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Southern Asia" region includes following countries:

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India

Iran

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Earlier Report Observations

The cocoa beans market in Southern Asia grew from 30 572 t in 2018 to 38 273 t in 2023. This expansion was supported by steadily rising cocoa bean prices across the region, which reflected strengthening demand and incentivized production. Output remained concentrated in southern Indian states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, areas recognized for high-quality beans.

A significant market volume increase to 35 241 t in 2021 coincided with global supply constraints that pushed prices higher and encouraged local production. By 2023, severe global shortages due to climate impacts and crop diseases in West Africa drove cocoa prices to historic highs, further motivating output growth in Southern Asia. During this period, the emergence of craft and bean-to-bar chocolate brands in India boosted demand for premium cocoa beans.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Southern Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cocoa beans in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cocoa beans, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cocoa beans, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Southern Asia's cocoa bean production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 27,455 tonnes of cocoa beans, representing a 7.7% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 34%, with an average annual growth rate of 10.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.0%	15.3%	7.7%	10.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cocoa beans from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 2 tonnes, then peaked in 2017, with a 12.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 4 tonnes of cocoa beans, marking an 87.9% increase compared to 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 75.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(75.2%)	(68.2%)	87.9%	(47.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uganda and Germany were the dominant destinations for exports in kind, together accounting for 80.5% of total flows, while other countries had smaller individual shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest value in 2019 at 18,000 US dollars, then peaked earlier in the period, with a 6.6-fold amplitude between the high and low points. In 2020, Southern Asia's cocoa bean export value amounted to 28,000 US dollars, showing a dramatic year-on-year gain of 54.0%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a drop of 76.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(36.2%)	(76.1%)	54.0%	(38.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (37.0% of exports in value terms), Uganda (34.0% of exports in value terms), and Czechia (11.6% of exports in value terms) continued to lead as the top buyers of cocoa beans from Southern Asia, jointly taking 82.5% of total exports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cocoa beans to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Cocoa bean imports into Southern Asia declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 3,859 tonnes, constituting a sudden fall of 35.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 68.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 31.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(30.8%)	(29.7%)	(35.1%)	(31.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates (52.8% of imports in kind), Ghana (25.8% of imports in kind), and Turkey (16.9% of imports in kind) together accounted for 95.5% of total imports in kind, remaining the main sources for cocoa beans to Southern Asia.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Cocoa bean deliveries to Southern Asia declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 14,517,000 US dollars, constituting a steep loss of 25.6% relative to the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 70.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 33.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(30.6%)	(42.1%)	(25.6%)	(33.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates (52.5% of imports in value terms), Ghana (26.0% of imports in value terms), and Turkey (17.2% of imports in value terms) together accounted for 95.7% of total imports in value terms, remaining the main destinations for cocoa beans to Southern Asia.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io