Cocoa butter market in Northern America

Earlier Report Observations

The cocoa butter market in Northern America showed a general expansion from 2018 to 2021, with its volume rising from 224 thousand tons to 245 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by increasing consumer demand for natural ingredients in cosmetics and food processing, alongside a strengthening preference for ethically sourced and fair-trade products. The market continued to grow in 2020 despite global supply chain disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, as rising awareness of clean-label products supported consumption.

After peaking in 2021, the market volume contracted to 189 thousand tons by 2023. During this period, demand for premium chocolates and vegan applications continued to expand, but the overall market size declined. In 2024, major companies introduced new product lines, such as Barry Callebaut's sustainably sourced, certified organic and Fair Trade cocoa butter and ADM's high-purity line for pharmaceutical applications, while global supply shortages and weather disruptions in West Africa caused significant price surges.

Production cocoa butter in Northern America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cocoa butter, 2017-2020

World map of production of cocoa butter, 2017-2020

In 2019, cocoa butter production in Northern America reached its lowest point at 187.1 thousand tons, declining by 5.1% from the previous year. However, production rebounded significantly in 2020, reaching 209.8 thousand tons—a 12.1% increase compared to 2019. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 11.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%.

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

Exports cocoa butter from Northern America

Exports in kind, t

The export market for cocoa butter from Northern America showed considerable volatility between 2017 and 2020. In 2018, exports hit their lowest level at just 10 tons, marking a dramatic 99.7% decline. The following year saw an extraordinary recovery, with exports surging by 18,082.7%. By 2020, exports reached 9,624 tons—a 437.9% increase compared to 2019 and representing a 978-fold difference from the 2018 low.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Northern America in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Italy consistently served as the primary destination for cocoa butter exports from Northern America, accounting for 28.3% of total export volumes.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Export values displayed an unstable pattern throughout the period. The lowest point occurred in 2018 at $8.4 million, representing a 54.7% decrease. By 2020, export values had recovered to $62.4 million—a 488.2% increase compared to 2019 and 7.4 times higher than the 2018 level.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, Italy remained the leading market for cocoa butter exports from Northern America in value terms, capturing 31.1% of total export revenue.

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

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

Imports cocoa butter to Northern America

Imports in kind, t

Cocoa butter imports to Northern America followed a declining trend from 2017 to 2020, decreasing by 45.6% overall with an average annual decline of 18.4%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 27,223 tons, representing a 48.6% drop. While imports recovered slightly in 2019 with a 7.7% increase, they fell again in 2020 to 28,812 tons—a modest 1.7% decrease compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Northern America in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Côte d'Ivoire dominated cocoa butter imports to Northern America by volume. Indonesia accounted for 32.4% of imports, Malaysia for 17.5%, and Côte d'Ivoire for 11.0%. Together, these three suppliers represented 61.0% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Import values showed a more stable upward trend, increasing by 6.7% from 2017 to 2020 with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%. After reaching a low of $160.4 million in 2018 (a 2.7% decline), values recovered with a 5.9% increase in 2019 and continued growing in 2020 to $175.9 million—a 3.6% improvement over the previous year.

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

In value terms, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Côte d'Ivoire were also the leading suppliers of cocoa butter to Northern America from 2017 to 2020. Indonesia accounted for 27.5% of import value, Malaysia for 19.1%, and Côte d'Ivoire for 9.3%. Collectively, these three countries represented 55.9% of total import value.

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

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