Market research

Cocoa powder and cake market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

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

Earlier Report Observations

The cocoa powder and cake market in Eastern Africa experienced notable fluctuations between 2018 and 2023. Market volume grew consistently from 2 214 metric tons in 2018 to a peak of 2 791 metric tons in 2020, driven largely by rising import volumes which reached 2 818 metric tons that year.

Following the 2020 peak, the market contracted over the next three years, declining to 2 594 metric tons in 2021 and further to 2 358 metric tons by 2023. This downward trend was mirrored by a gradual reduction in import volumes during the same period.

In 2024, import volumes increased to 2 613 metric tons. This rebound was supported by growing consumer demand for health-conscious, organic, and ethically sourced cocoa products, alongside the emergence of new product segments such as plant-based and vegan chocolates, which expanded the regional demand for cocoa powder and cake.

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 Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, kg
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  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, kg
  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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 powder and cake in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

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

Eastern Africa's cocoa powder and cake production has grown for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 13 260 kg, representing a significant 68.7% increase from the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production rose by 58.4%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 16.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 6 090 kg, which also saw the largest decline of 27.2% during this timeframe.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.2%)	29.1%	68.7%	16.6%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cocoa powder and cake from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

Exports of cocoa powder and cake from Eastern Africa have fallen for the second consecutive year. In 2020, export volumes dropped to 41 t, down 33.6% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 28.6%, averaging an annual decline of 10.6%. The peak export volume was in 2018 at 62 t, which also experienced the largest increase of 9.4% during this period.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	9.4%	(1.8%)	(33.6%)	(10.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, and the United Kingdom were the key partners for Eastern Africa's cocoa powder and cake exports in volume terms. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for 3.9% of exports, France for 1.4%, and the United Kingdom for 1.1%. Together, these three countries represented 6.5% 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 Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. There was a 3.4-fold difference between the highest value in 2017 and the lowest in 2020. In 2020, cocoa powder and cake shipments from Eastern Africa to abroad totaled 125 K $ US, marking a sharp 29.1% decrease year-over-year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 62.2%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 10.2%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(62.2%)	10.2%	(29.1%)	(33.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, France, the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were the main buyers of cocoa powder and cake from Eastern Africa in value terms. France contributed 3.2% of export value, the United Kingdom 1.7%, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1.4%. Collectively, these three countries made up 6.3% 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 Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cocoa powder and cake to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Imports of cocoa powder and cake into Eastern Africa have increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports reached 2 818 t, up 13.1% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 24.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.1%	9.8%	13.1%	7.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa, Ghana, and Malaysia consistently led as the top sources for cocoa powder and cake imports into Eastern Africa in volume terms. South Africa accounted for 21.9% of imports, Ghana for 21.0%, and Malaysia for 14.7%. Together, these three countries represented 57.6% 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 Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, foreign supplies of cocoa powder and cake to Eastern Africa were valued at 7 752 K $ US, an 18.4% increase compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 12.8%, averaging an annual growth rate of 4.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 6 547 K $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 11.5% during this period.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	7.7%	(11.5%)	18.4%	4.1%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017 to 2020, South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana were the largest suppliers of cocoa powder and cake to Eastern Africa in value terms. South Africa accounted for 27.7% of import value, Egypt for 16.4%, and Ghana for 16.3%. Together, these three countries formed 60.3% of total import value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io