Market research

Unmanufactured tobacco and refuse market in Ghana

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market for unmanufactured tobacco in Ghana showed gradual expansion from 2018 to 2023, with production volume rising from 2 492 t to 2 544 t. This upward trend was consistent, though modest, with a slight dip in 2022 that represented market stabilization rather than a significant decline. The overall growth occurred alongside a regulatory environment increasingly focused on curbing tobacco consumption and illicit trade.

Key regulatory developments marked the period. In 2018, authorities noted illicit cigarette trade accounted for 39% of sales, prompting moves toward ratifying the international Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products. This focus continued, culminating in 2023 with the launch of a five-year National Tobacco Control Strategy aimed at reducing tobacco use. Enforcement actions also intensified, such as the Ghana Revenue Authority confiscating illicit tobacco products valued at over GH¢7.9 million, targeting smuggling through unapproved routes.

Despite these control measures targeting the finished cigarette market, domestic production of unmanufactured tobacco remained resilient. The steady output suggests underlying demand for raw tobacco persisted, even as policymakers worked to implement tracking systems, border surveillance, and stricter sales regulations influencing the broader tobacco sector.

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 Ghana
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Ghana in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Ghana in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, 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, 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, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ghana in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ghana in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Ghana, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ghana 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, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ghana in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ghana in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Ghana, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Ghana 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, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ghana in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ghana in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Ghana, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ghana 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, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ghana in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ghana in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 Ghana, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Ghana by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ 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 unmanufactured tobacco and refuse in Ghana

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Ghana's production of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 2 536 tons, marking a 1.3% increase from 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production rose by 3.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Ghana in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	0.5%	1.3%	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse from Ghana

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Ghana in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Togo was the primary destination for Ghana's unmanufactured tobacco and refuse exports, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total export volumes.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, Togo dominated the value of Ghana's unmanufactured tobacco and refuse exports, representing 100.0% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports unmanufactured tobacco and refuse to Ghana

Imports in kind, kg

In 2020, Ghana imported 1.0 kg of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, showing little change from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports fell by 98.9%, with an average annual decline of 78.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Ghana in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	(78.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Ghana's imports in kind were heavily concentrated on Nigeria and Nicaragua, which together accounted for 98.9% of total flows, while other partners made up a small residual share.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

In 2020, Ghana imported 8.2 US dollars worth of unmanufactured tobacco and refuse, remaining nearly unchanged from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import values dropped by 97.3%, with an average annual decrease of 70.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	(70.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua was the main source for Ghana's imports in value terms, capturing 72.7% of total flows, with other markets forming a fragmented remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io