Market research

Cocoa powder and cake market in Africa

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Africa" region includes following countries:

Algeria

Libya

Morocco

Sudan

Western Sahara

Tunisia

Egypt

Cabo Verde

Benin

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Côte d'Ivoire

Liberia

Mali

Mauritania

Niger

Nigeria

Guinea-Bissau

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Burkina Faso

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Angola

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Sao Tome and Principe

Botswana

Lesotho

Namibia

South Africa

Eswatini

Earlier Report Observations

The African market for cocoa powder and cake experienced strong expansion from 2018 to 2023, with its physical volume growing from 37.4 thousand tons to 312.8 thousand tons. In value terms, the market increased more than tenfold, from 90 million USD to 1.047 billion USD.

This growth was supported by a steady rise in domestic production, which more than doubled to 375.4 thousand tons by 2023. Over the same period, export volumes gradually declined while imports increased, contributing to greater product availability within the region.

In 2024, record-high international cocoa bean prices, driven by severe drought in West Africa's key growing regions, alongside new European Union deforestation regulations, influenced trade dynamics. Imports rose to 70.1 thousand tons while exports fell to 104.9 thousand tons.

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. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K 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, K 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Algeria in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Algeria by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 powder and cake in Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cocoa powder and cake, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cocoa powder and cake, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

After two years of decline, Africa's production of cocoa powder and cake rebounded. In 2020, the continent produced 265.0 K t, marking a significant 57.1% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 32.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.7%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 168.6 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a drop of 13.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.5%)	(2.7%)	57.1%	9.7%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following two years of decline, cocoa powder and cake production in Africa saw an upturn. In 2020, the output was valued at 558.6 M $ US, representing a sharp 39.6% rise from 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 400.2 M $ US, and the most significant decrease happened in 2018 with a 21.7% fall.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(21.7%)	(9.1%)	39.6%	(0.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cocoa powder and cake from Africa

Exports in kind, K t

Africa's exports of cocoa powder and cake declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the continent exported 142.1 K t, showing a modest 9.8% decrease compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 15.8%, with an average annual decline of 5.6%. The peak export volume was in 2018 at 191.1 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 17.5% reduction. The biggest increase was recorded in 2018 with a 13.2% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	13.2%	(17.5%)	(9.8%)	(5.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, the United States, and Spain were the primary markets for Africa's cocoa powder and cake exports in volume terms. The Netherlands accounted for 31.1% of exports, the United States for 13.4%, and Spain for 8.9%, together making up 53.4% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Africa's exports of cocoa powder and cake in value terms fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 299.5 M $ US, down 19.9% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 36.7%, translating to an average annual decline of 14.1%. The highest export value was in 2018 at 485.1 M $ US, with the largest drop occurring in 2019 at 22.9%. The most notable increase was in 2018 with a 2.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.5%	(22.9%)	(19.9%)	(14.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the Netherlands, the United States, and France were the largest buyers of cocoa powder and cake from Africa in value terms. The Netherlands represented 26.9% of exports, the United States 15.2%, and France 10.0%, collectively accounting for 52.1% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cocoa powder and cake to Africa

Imports in kind, K t

Africa's imports of cocoa powder and cake increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 61.3 K t, up 1.9% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 34.6%, with an average annual increase of 10.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.0%	9.2%	1.9%	10.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Spain, the Netherlands, and Malaysia were the key partners for Africa's cocoa powder and cake imports in volume terms. Spain contributed 25.6% of imports, the Netherlands 19.5%, and Malaysia 15.7%, together representing 60.8% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Africa's imports of cocoa powder and cake in value terms rose for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at 146.2 M $ US, a 12.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 33%, with an average annual growth rate of 10.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	14.7%	3.2%	12.3%	10.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Spain, the Netherlands, and Malaysia remained the main sources for Africa's cocoa powder and cake imports in value terms. Spain accounted for 23.8% of imports, the Netherlands for 20.0%, and Malaysia for 16.1%, collectively making up 59.9% of total import flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io