China’s removal of import tariffs on African goods is creating new export opportunities for West Africa’s cocoa industry, encouraging producers to diversify beyond their traditional European markets. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon—which together account for more than two-thirds of global cocoa production—are looking to expand sales of processed cocoa products to China, where tariffs of up to 22% have now been eliminated. China has already helped finance cocoa-processing plants in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, securing preferential access to derivatives like cocoa butter and powder. The shift comes amid a rough production year, with West African output down nearly 13% due to aging trees and erratic weather. Nevertheless, industry leaders believe stronger processing capacity, improved productivity, and growing Asian demand could help African producers secure greater returns from the global chocolate industry, while reducing dependence on traditional European buyers.
African Business