Ghana ranks fourth in Africa for cocoa bean exports to EU

Data from Fitch Solutions reveals that Ghana ranks fourth among African nations for cocoa bean exports to the European Union between 2021 and 2024. Despite being the world's second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana's share of exports to the EU averaged 53.7%, trailing Cameroon (74.7%), Nigeria (57.8%), and Côte d'Ivoire (57.4%).

Analysis indicates a significant structural gap in the West African cocoa value chain. While the region accounts for approximately 65% of global production and over half of global bean exports, much of the value-added processing—such as the production of cocoa paste, butter, and powder—occurs in Europe. The report notes that while Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Cameroon jointly produce about 70% of the world's cocoa, they capture only about 6% of the value of a finished chocolate bar.

Fitch Solutions suggests that the traditional model of exporting raw beans will face increasing pressure from sustainability and traceability requirements, which are expected to shape future export flows to the EU.