NETHERLANDS TOPS GLOBAL COCOA EXPORTS AS GHANA REMAINS KEY SUPPLIER

NETHERLANDS TOPS GLOBAL COCOA EXPORTS AS GHANA REMAINS KEY SUPPLIER

The Netherlands has regained its position as the world’s leading exporter of cocoa products in 2025, surpassing Germany, with Ghana playing a crucial role as a major supplier to the European market.

New data from Statistics Netherlands shows that Dutch cocoa exports rose significantly to €12.4 billion, driven by increasing global cocoa prices and strong demand for semi-processed cocoa products used in chocolate production.
The figures highlight the continued importance of West African cocoa-producing countries, particularly Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, alongside Cameroon and Nigeria.

These nations supply a large portion of raw cocoa beans that are shipped to the Netherlands for processing and re-export.

Analysts note that this trend reflects a long-standing structure in the global cocoa industry, where African countries primarily export raw materials while European nations dominate the processing and export of higher-value products such as cocoa butter, powder, and chocolate.

According to the data, nearly three-quarters of Dutch cocoa exports consist of semi-finished products, which are later used by manufacturers in other countries. Germany remains the largest destination for these exports, followed by Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Netherlands’ dominance is further strengthened by its role as a key processing and trading hub, particularly through major industrial zones such as Amsterdam and the Zaanstreek area.
The rise in export value has also been linked to higher global cocoa prices, partly caused by poor harvests in West Africa due to unfavorable weather conditions in recent years.

In addition to exports, the Netherlands remains one of the world’s largest importers of cocoa beans, reinforcing its central role in the global cocoa trade.
For Ghana, the development underscores its continued importance in the international cocoa market.

However, experts argue that the country must invest more in local processing and industrialisation to capture greater value from its cocoa resources rather than relying heavily on raw exports.

Credit: Graphic online