Not defatted cocoa paste market in Côte d'Ivoire

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, production of not defatted cocoa paste in Côte d'Ivoire fluctuated moderately between 424 thousand tonnes and 462 thousand tonnes annually. The country's role as the world's largest cocoa producer, supplying 43% of global output, formed the essential raw material foundation for the paste industry.

A strong expansion phase began in 2022, with production surging to 604 thousand tonnes and further to 720 thousand tonnes in 2023. This period was marked by a sharp rise in cocoa bean prices, which reached record highs due to a roughly 20% drop in the Ivorian cocoa harvest. Adverse weather conditions associated with El Niño and the widespread Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus disease significantly reduced bean availability. The government's temporary market closure in mid-2023 to manage the shortage highlighted these supply constraints. The resulting high bean prices drove the value of paste production up by 37% to $2.5 billion in 2023, even as physical output continued to grow, likely supported by existing bean inventories or increased processing intensity.

The domestic market for not defatted cocoa paste grew in parallel, reaching 477 thousand tonnes in volume by 2023. Export volumes also increased throughout the period, indicating robust external demand for Ivorian cocoa paste products.

Production not defatted cocoa paste in Côte d'Ivoire

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire ranked third globally in the production of not defatted cocoa paste.

Top producers of not defatted cocoa paste, 2017-2020

World map of production of not defatted cocoa paste, 2017-2020

In 2020, Côte d'Ivoire produced 460.9 thousand tonnes of not defatted cocoa paste, an 8.7% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 8.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 424.0 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

After two years of decline, not defatted cocoa paste production in Côte d'Ivoire rebounded. In 2020, the output was valued at 1 494 million US dollars, representing a 24.1% increase from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, production rose by 14.8%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 4.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 204 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 4.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Côte d'Ivoire in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports not defatted cocoa paste from Côte d'Ivoire

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Côte d'Ivoire's export volume of not defatted cocoa paste was 219.2 thousand tonnes, showing minimal change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 6.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%. The lowest export volume occurred in 2018 at 194.6 thousand tonnes, which saw the largest decline of 5.7%. In contrast, 2019 recorded the highest export volume at 219.4 thousand tonnes, with the largest increase of 12.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, France, and the United States were the key export partners for not defatted cocoa paste in volume terms. The Netherlands accounted for 40.0% of exports, France for 17.0%, and the United States for 12.0%, together representing 69.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Not defatted cocoa paste exports from Côte d'Ivoire increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 710.3 million US dollars, a 14.0% rise compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 12.3%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 561.3 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 11.3%.

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

Over the 2017-2020 period, the Netherlands, France, and the United States were the leading destinations for not defatted cocoa paste exports in value terms. The Netherlands held a 39.5% share, France 17.8%, and the United States 11.7%, collectively accounting for 69.0% of total export flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Côte d'Ivoire in value, 2017-2020

Imports not defatted cocoa paste to Côte d'Ivoire

Imports in kind, K t

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

From 2017 to 2020, the import structure for not defatted cocoa paste in volume terms was primarily dominated by Ghana and France, which together accounted for 100.0% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Côte d'Ivoire in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Ghana dominated the import structure in value terms, consistently representing 90.6% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Côte d'Ivoire in value, 2017-2020