Nigeria’s Cocoa Exports to US Surge to $142m as Government Pushes Local Processing
By GLEBM News Desk
Nigeria’s cocoa bean exports to the United States rose to $142 million in 2025, representing a 554 per cent increase from the $21.7 million recorded in 2024, according to figures disclosed by the United States Mission in Nigeria.
The figures, reported on Wednesday, October 21, highlight the growing value of Nigerian cocoa in the American market and renew attention on the country’s potential to earn more foreign exchange from agricultural exports.
The sharp increase provides an opportunity for Nigeria to strengthen its position in the international cocoa trade. However, the long-term economic benefit will depend partly on whether the country can expand domestic processing and retain a larger share of the value generated from cocoa-based products.
The United States Mission disclosed the export figures in a social media post on Tuesday, noting that the reported value covered exports to the US alone. It pointed out that the figures did not include Nigeria’s cocoa trade with other markets, including Europe, China and India.
The increase comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to develop the country’s cocoa value chain and encourage more processing within Nigeria. The policy direction is intended to move the economy beyond exporting raw agricultural commodities towards manufacturing finished or semi-finished products that can command greater value in domestic and international markets.
President Bola Tinubu has previously expressed support for ending the export of raw cocoa beans, arguing that Nigeria should process more of its agricultural produce locally rather than export unprocessed commodities and import finished products made from them.
The position was reiterated at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 in Abuja, where the government outlined its ambition to develop a stronger domestic cocoa industry. The summit, themed “From Bean to Brand: The Bean in My Hand, The Brand in Our Future”, brought together government representatives, state officials, development partners, financiers and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of the cocoa sector.
At the event, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari said Africa produces approximately 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa but captures only a small portion of the value generated by the global chocolate industry, estimated at more than $130 billion.
The imbalance reflects the difference between producing an agricultural commodity and controlling the processing, branding, distribution and manufacture of finished goods. Countries that export raw cocoa may earn revenue from the beans, while a substantial portion of the additional value can be generated elsewhere through processing and the production of chocolate and other consumer products.
For Nigeria, the export figures point to a potentially valuable market opportunity. Rising sales to the United States could support farmers, exporters, aggregators and other participants in the cocoa supply chain. Greater demand may also create incentives to improve production, quality control, storage and logistics.
However, export growth alone does not establish how much additional income has reached farmers or how much profit Nigerian businesses have retained. Those outcomes depend on farm-gate prices, production costs, access to finance, export arrangements and the distribution of earnings along the supply chain.
Expanding local processing could create opportunities for manufacturers producing cocoa powder, cocoa butter, chocolate and other cocoa-based products. It could also support jobs in processing, packaging, transportation, marketing and distribution.
To realise these benefits, processors need reliable supplies of quality cocoa beans, dependable electricity, suitable equipment, working capital and access to markets. Businesses must also meet international food-safety and product-quality standards if they intend to sell finished goods abroad.
Smallholder farmers are particularly important to the industry’s future. Improving their access to agricultural inputs, extension services, finance and dependable buyers could strengthen production and help ensure that higher export demand translates into better livelihoods.
The government’s emphasis on value addition also raises questions about how policies affecting raw cocoa exports will be implemented. A successful transition towards local processing would require adequate domestic capacity to absorb cocoa production, competitive prices for farmers and manufacturers, and investment in the infrastructure needed to process and transport products efficiently.
If restrictions on raw exports are introduced without sufficient domestic processing capacity or dependable alternative markets, farmers and traders could face difficulties selling their produce. The transition therefore requires coordination among producers, processors, exporters, financiers and policymakers.
Nigeria must also compete with other cocoa-producing countries and established manufacturers in international markets. Developing finished products for export will require more than access to raw materials; it will depend on quality, consistent supply, pricing, branding and the ability to meet consumer demand.
The reported increase in exports to the United States is an encouraging indicator of market potential, but it is not by itself proof that Nigeria has captured a greater share of the global chocolate industry’s value. That will depend on whether the country can turn demand for its cocoa beans into a stronger domestic manufacturing base.
For farmers and businesses, the central challenge is to convert export growth into sustainable income, investment and jobs. For policymakers, the task is to build the conditions under which Nigeria can remain competitive as a cocoa supplier while developing the capacity to produce and export more value-added goods.
