Ghana plans to ban raw cocoa bean exports by 2030

Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, plans to completely halt exports of unprocessed cocoa beans by 2030 and shift towards domestic processing. The strategy was announced by Ghana’s Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson while presenting the 2027 national budget to parliament on November 12. Under the plan, the country aims to process at least 50% of its cocoa domestically by 2028 and 100% by 2030.

Ghana currently processes only 30–40% of its harvested cocoa beans, while most of the crop is exported as raw material. The country’s installed cocoa processing capacity stands at approximately 504.8 thsd tons per year, but existing facilities are operating at less than 50% capacity. One of the main reasons is the industry’s continued focus on selling raw beans to international buyers rather than developing domestic production of higher-value cocoa products.

The Ghanaian government intends to gradually expand cocoa processing, including the production of cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake, cocoa powder, chocolate, cosmetics, and other finished products. According to the finance minister, the country aims to retain a greater share of the revenue generated by the cocoa industry within its own economy. Implementing this strategy will involve expanding industrial capacity, creating new jobs, and increasing exports of processed cocoa products.

However, plans to expand domestic processing come amid expectations of lower cocoa production. Ghana harvested approximately 781 thsd tons of cocoa beans in the 2025/26 season, while output in the current season is forecast to decline by 16%. Reduced production volumes could make it more difficult to fully utilize processing facilities and may require additional investment to improve plantation productivity.

If Ghana implements the planned changes, they could significantly reshape global cocoa trade flows. International buyers would receive fewer unprocessed cocoa beans directly from Ghana, while supplies of cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and other processed products could increase.

Tags: cocoa, Ghana