Main Cocoa Bean Exporting Countries
This is a very telling statistic for illustrating the structure of world cocoa trade. Here is information on the ranking of the main cocoa-bean exporting countries, by volume and value, highlighting the…
This is a very telling statistic for illustrating the structure of world cocoa trade. Here is information on the ranking of the main cocoa bean exporting countries, by volume and by value, highlighting Côte d'Ivoire's leading position.
It is important to note that exact figures may vary slightly depending on the source (ICCO, FAOSTAT, UN Comtrade, ITC Trademap) and the reference year. The most recent and complete data for international trade often relate to calendar year 2022 or 2023. The surge in cocoa prices in 2024 and early 2025 will have a very significant impact on the rankings by value for those periods once consolidated data become available.
Context: Cocoa beans (HS code 1801) are the main raw material traded before processing.
Ranking of the Main Cocoa Bean Exporting Countries
1. By Volume (Quantity):
These countries export the largest quantities of raw cocoa beans.
| Rank | Country | Approximate Export Volume (in thousand tonnes) – Reference year ~2022/2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Côte d'Ivoire | ~1,800 - 2,100 |
| 2 | Ghana | ~600 - 800 |
| 3 | Ecuador | ~350 - 450 |
| 4 | Cameroon | ~250 - 300 |
| 5 | Nigeria | ~200 - 280 |
| 6 | Indonesia | ~150 - 200 (has declined, also imports for its processing) |
| 7 | Peru | ~70 - 90 |
| 8 | Dominican Republic | ~60 - 80 |
Note: These figures are orders of magnitude based on recent trends. Production and exports can fluctuate annually.
2. By Value:
These countries generate the highest revenues from cocoa bean exports. This ranking is strongly influenced by world cocoa prices and quality (premiums for fine cocoa). With the price surge in 2024-2025, values for those years will be exceptionally high once available.
| Rank | Country | Approximate Export Value (in billion USD) – Reference year ~2022/2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Côte d'Ivoire | ~4.0 - 5.5 |
| 2 | Ghana | ~1.5 - 2.5 |
| 3 | Ecuador | ~0.8 - 1.2 (benefits from higher prices for its fine cocoa) |
| 4 | Cameroon | ~0.5 - 0.7 |
| 5 | Nigeria | ~0.4 - 0.6 |
| 6 | Dominican Republic | ~0.2 - 0.3 (often organic and/or fair trade cocoa) |
| 7 | Peru | ~0.2 - 0.3 (fine and often certified cocoa) |
| 8 | Indonesia | ~0.4 - 0.6 (value may be higher than the exported volume suggests if beans are of good quality) |
Note: These figures are orders of magnitude and depend heavily on average prices over the reference period. Indonesia exports less in volume than before but may have significant value owing to quality and the Asian market.
Analysis and Key Points by cacao.ci:
- Ivorian Dominance: Côte d'Ivoire is unquestionably the world leader in cocoa bean exports, both in volume and in value. This position gives the country major influence on the world market but also great responsibility.
- Importance of West Africa: Together with Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire forms a duo that largely dominates world exports by volume. Nigeria and Cameroon are also significant African players.
- Value vs. Volume: Countries such as Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Peru, although smaller in volume, can have a proportionally high export value thanks to their positioning in the fine, organic or fair trade cocoa markets, which command higher prices.
- Impact of World Prices: The ranking by value is very sensitive to fluctuations in world cocoa prices. The 2024-2025 period, with its historically high prices, will dramatically redefine value figures for exporting countries when full annual data are published.
Data sources and methodology for your research:
- ITC Trademap (International Trade Centre): Provides detailed data on international trade by product (HS code 1801 for cocoa beans) and by country.
- UN Comtrade: The United Nations statistical database on merchandise trade.
- FAOSTAT: The FAO's database, useful for production volumes and sometimes trade values.
- ICCO (International Cocoa Organization): Publishes statistics and analysis on the world market.
When presenting these statistics in your reports, it will be helpful to always state the reference year and the source of the data to ensure the information's credibility. The current state of cocoa prices makes value data particularly dynamic.
