Ghana has secured firm offtake commitments from buyers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia for its semi-finished cocoa products, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on raw bean exports and expand domestic processing.
The agreements, announced by the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) Ghana Limited, cover cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake and cocoa powder.
While the company did not disclose the value of the deals or the volumes involved, officials said the commitments would guarantee demand for products produced by Ghana’s underutilised grinding capacity.
The deals were secured through engagements led by CMC Managing Director Dr Wisdom Kofi Dogbey with leading commodities institutions and processing companies in the Gulf region.
According to the company, the agreements are intended to ensure that increased domestic cocoa processing translates into export earnings rather than unsold inventories.
The development supports President John Dramani Mahama’s policy target of processing 50% of Ghana’s cocoa production locally, a strategy aimed at retaining more value within the country and creating jobs in the cocoa value chain.
Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and has historically relied heavily on exporting raw beans.
During the Gulf engagements, Dr Dogbey met executives of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), one of the world’s leading commodity trading hubs. Discussions focused on how Ghanaian cocoa products could be integrated into regional supply chains spanning the Middle East and Asia.
The company said the meetings provided a blueprint for positioning Ghana’s processed cocoa products in new markets beyond its traditional buyers in Europe and North America.
The agreements also align with the UAE’s ambitions to become a major global hub for cocoa trading and processing. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s expanding food and confectionery industries are increasing demand for cocoa ingredients, creating new opportunities for suppliers of semi-finished cocoa products.
Industry analysts say securing buyers ahead of increased production is critical to the success of Ghana’s processing ambitions. The country’s cocoa grinding facilities have long operated below capacity due to financing constraints and uncertain market demand.
By locking in offtake agreements, processors gain greater certainty to ramp up production and attract investment into the sector.
The global cocoa market is projected to continue expanding over the next decade, with demand for processed cocoa ingredients expected to rise alongside growth in the confectionery and food manufacturing sectors. If sustained, the new Gulf partnerships could help Ghana capture a larger share of the value generated from its cocoa industry while diversifying its export destinations and strengthening Africa’s industrial export base.
For Ghana, the agreements represent more than new sales contracts; they signal a strategic shift toward moving up the cocoa value chain and positioning the country as a competitive exporter of processed cocoa products rather than simply a supplier of raw beans.
