Cocoa beans are native to central and southern America and are widely cultivated in tropical regions around the world, currently growing in 45 different countries around the world. So which country is the largest producer of cocoa beans in the world?
Largest producer of cocoa in the world – Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana
According to the statistics of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), in the 2020/2021 harvest season, the global cocoa harvest area reached more than 12 million hectares, with a total output of 5.13 million tons. Among them, Africa accounted for 76.4%, the Americas accounted for 15.6%, and the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 8.0%. Côte d’Ivoire is the world’s largest cocoa producer with 2.2 million tons; Ghana is the second-largest producer with 1.06 million tons.
Côte d’Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire accounts for morCôte d’Ivoire accounts for more than 40% of global cocoa production, with an annual output of about 2.2 million tons. The country mainly supplies cocoa beans to international chocolate companies such as Nestlé and Cadbury. Two-thirds of Côte d’Ivoire’s trade revenue comes from cocoa production, but the industry has come under fire for its reliance on child labor.
Ghana
GhGhana accounts for around 20% of global cocoa production, with an annual output of about 1.06 million tonnes. Over the past 20 years, the country’s cocoa industry has undergone revolutionary changes. The Ghana Cocoa Board decided in 1997 to launch its own chocolate brand with the backing of The Body Shop. Cocoa production accounts for one-sixth of the country’s gross domestic product. More than three-quarters of farmers define themselves as “economic farmers,” meaning cocoa farms are owned and maintained by farmers who live on the land.
Ghana’s cocoa plantations are mostly distributed in rainforest areas. The fruit ripens twice a year. There will be a small harvest season around July each year, and the main harvest season starts in October.
Ecuador
Ecuador does not produce the most cocoa beans in the world, but many consider their cocoa beans to be among the best in the world. Farmers in Ecuador call their cocoa beans “black gold,” and the rich chocolate sauce derived from the beans is one of the main reasons for the country’s fame.
In addition to the largest cocoa producer – Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, there are also producing countries such as Nigeria and Cameroon, and also cultivated in Madagascar. The major consuming countries are the United States, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and China.