Ethiopia eyes cocoa as next major export commodity amid global supply gap 

ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia is positioning cocoa as a future export commodity to rival the economic importance of coffee, rice, and rubber, according to MIDROC Investment Group.  

The company, in partnership with the Date Agricultural Research Center, has spent the past five years researching cocoa cultivation in the country. 

Bebeka Coffee Farm General Manager, Beshada Worku, told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that studies show favorable conditions for cocoa farming in Ethiopia’s southwest regions.  

“Cocoa is a high-demand crop globally. It can become an alternative economic driver, earning foreign exchange on par with coffee and other commodities,” Beshada said. 

So far, more than 54,000 cocoa seedlings have been planted across 50 hectares of land at the Bebeka Coffee Plantation in Bench Sheko Zone. MIDROC plans to expand the cultivated area to 200 hectares within two years. 

Beshada highlighted cocoa’s value as a raw material for industries ranging from chocolate and confectionery to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.  

On international markets, one ton of cocoa currently sells for between US$8,000 and US$12,000, which could generate higher returns than coffee. Though yields per hectare are lower, cocoa trees begin producing fruit within three years, compared to the longer maturation period required for coffee. 

He also noted that global cocoa demand consistently exceeds supply despite strong output from major producers such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Brazil, and Indonesia. Market shifts caused by evolving regulations in some producing nations further open opportunities for Ethiopia to establish itself in the sector. 

In addition to targeting exports, MIDROC aims to supply cocoa domestically to a planned chocolate factory. This facility is expected to reduce reliance on imports while supporting value-added production in Ethiopia. 

At present, cocoa farming in Ethiopia is limited, with small-scale experimental production led by the Tepi Agricultural Research Centre.  

However, the domestic chocolate market has seen new entrants over the past decade. Most producers rely on imported cocoa powder and blend it with locally available vegetable oils to make compound chocolate. 

Industry data shows the global cocoa beans market was valued at US$16 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow nearly 7% annually, reaching over US$22 billion by 2028.  

The global industrial chocolate market is also forecast to expand at an average annual rate of 4.4% through 2030, creating growth opportunities for new suppliers like Ethiopia. 

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