Copra market in Sub-Saharan Africa

Earlier Report Observations

The cocoa market in Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a significant decline in production volumes from 175.4 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 114.2 thousand tonnes in 2022, before a slight recovery to 115.8 thousand tonnes in 2023. This downturn was primarily driven by structural challenges within the cocoa farming sector, including demoralized and underpaid farmers, aging trees, exhausted soils, and competition from illegal gold mining, which constrained output despite rising global prices.

State-owned COCOBOD maintained a dominant role, influencing producer prices and market stability. In response to the production decline, the government implemented substantial producer price increases—such as raising the farmgate price from GH¢20,928 to GH¢48,000 per tonne in 2023—to support farmer welfare. The entry of new local processing capacity, exemplified by Plot Enterprise's 30,000 MT factory launched in 2022, aimed to add value but did not reverse the overall production trend.

External regulatory and market forces further shaped the landscape. The European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) imposed strict traceability and sustainability requirements on cocoa exports, pressuring producers to adapt. Concurrently, a global cocoa supply deficit, exacerbated by production issues in Côte d’Ivoire, pushed international prices to record highs, creating a high-price environment that coexisted with persistent volume constraints.

Production copra in Sub-Saharan Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of copra, 2017-2020

World map of production of copra, 2017-2020

Copra production in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 130.0 thousand tonnes of copra, which represents a 6.1% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 24%, with an average annual decline rate of 8.7%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 175.4 thousand tonnes. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with a 21.0% decrease, while the largest increase was seen in 2018, with a 2.5% rise.

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

Exports copra from Sub-Saharan Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 54.0 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 301.5 tonnes, showing a 5.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa's copra export volume stood at 301.5 tonnes, marking a substantial 439.6% increase from the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a 74.5% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—Pakistan, Canada, and Lithuania—collectively accounted for 39.9% of Sub-Saharan Africa's total copra exports in volume terms.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations over this period. Exports bottomed in 2019 at 34.9 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 335.2 thousand US dollars, with a 9.6-fold difference. In 2020, cross-border shipments of copra from Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 335.2 thousand US dollars, reflecting an 860.9% surge compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 55.4% decrease.

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

During 2017–2020, Pakistan, Canada, and Lithuania were the core markets for Sub-Saharan Africa's copra exports in value terms. Pakistan accounted for 21.2% of exports, Canada for 12.5%, and Lithuania for 12.4%, together making up 46.1% of total export value.

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

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

Imports copra to Sub-Saharan Africa

Imports in kind, t

Market performance displayed significant fluctuations during this period. Imports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 1.0 tonne and reached their highest in 2017, with a 14.6-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Sub-Saharan Africa imported 1.9 tonnes of copra, indicating an 87.7% improvement from the prior year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with an 80.8% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, India and China were the leading sources for copra imports to Sub-Saharan Africa in volume terms. India contributed 1.9% of total imports, while China accounted for 1.1%.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market experienced noticeable fluctuations in performance over this period. Imports fell to their lowest point in 2019 at 1.5 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2017, showing a 12.8-fold fluctuation. In 2020, copra deliveries to Sub-Saharan Africa amounted to 4.1 thousand US dollars, corresponding to a 174.2% increase over the past year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a 76.7% decrease.

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

Over the 2017–2020 period, the United States, India, and China were the top suppliers of copra to Sub-Saharan Africa in value terms. The United States led with 61.3% of imports, followed by India at 10.9%, and China at 5.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 78.1% of total import value.

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

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