Ecuador aims to become the world’s second-largest cocoa producer

Ecuador plans to produce over 650,000 tonnes of cocoa in the 2026/27 season and could surpass Ghana to become the second-largest producer of the key chocolate ingredient, according to Ivan Ontaneda, chairman of the Anecacao cocoa exporters association, as reported by Reuters.

He noted that, thanks to rapidly rising global cocoa prices, Ecuadorian farmers, supported by the public and private sectors, are increasingly investing in production and increasing yields. Ontaneda noted that, unlike Ghana, production in Ecuador has shown steady growth for many years.

A Reuters poll published earlier this month found that Ghana, which is struggling with illegal gold mining on farms and the spread of diseases, will produce only 600,000 tonnes of cocoa in 2025/26.

Although cocoa is one of the smallest agricultural markets in the world, any change within the industry has global implications for food and confectionery manufacturers, as well as retailers worldwide. Cocoa prices have increased by 185% in five years, and processors, struggling to cope with market pressure, are seeking alternatives to replace expensive beans. The resulting industry has led to the introduction of a new term: cocoa butter substitutes (CBS).

Tags: Ecuador, cocoa