The Netherlands has reclaimed its position at the centre of the global cocoa trade, overtaking Germany as the world’s leading exporter of cocoa products in 2025, with Ghana among the key suppliers feeding the booming European market.
New data released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) shows that Dutch cocoa exports reached €12.4 billion last year, marking a sharp rise driven largely by surging global cocoa prices and strong demand for semi-processed products used in chocolate manufacturing.
West African Producers Remain Critical
The figures underline the continued importance of West African producers, particularly Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which remain critical to global supply chains. Together with Cameroon and Nigeria, the region provides a substantial share of the raw cocoa beans that are shipped into the Netherlands for processing and re-export.
Industry analysts say the development highlights a familiar pattern in the cocoa value chain, where African countries supply raw materials while Europe dominates processing and export of higher-value products such as cocoa butter, powder, and chocolate.
Semi-Finished Products Dominate Exports
The CBS data indicates that nearly three-quarters of Dutch cocoa exports consist of semi-finished products, with the remainder made up of finished goods. These intermediate products are largely used by manufacturers in other countries to produce chocolate and related items.
Germany remains the biggest destination for Dutch cocoa exports, accounting for about a quarter of total shipments, followed by Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Netherlands’ strategic position as a processing and trading hub, particularly through Amsterdam and the Zaanstreek industrial area, continues to underpin its dominance.
Price Surge Driven by Poor Harvests
The surge in export value has been attributed in part to sustained increases in global cocoa prices, linked to poor harvests in West Africa in recent years due to adverse weather conditions. This has pushed up the overall value of cocoa trade, even as production challenges persist in key growing regions.
Netherlands as Import Gateway
Beyond exports, the Netherlands also ranks among the world’s largest importers of cocoa beans, reinforcing its dual role as both a gateway and processing centre for the global cocoa industry. The country’s total cocoa trade — including imports and exports — places it ahead of traditional competitors such as Germany and Belgium.
Implications for Ghana
For Ghana, the latest development reinforces its continued relevance in the global cocoa economy, even as calls grow for producing countries to capture more value through local processing and industrialisation.
Economists argue that while Ghana benefits from strong demand for its cocoa beans, the dominance of European processors in the value chain highlights the need for sustained investment in domestic processing capacity to maximise returns from the crop.
