Nigeria Sees Surge in Cocoa Exports to United States
The nation reported that cocoa exports to the U.S. reached $142 million in 2025.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Organic Food
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Nigeria reported a major increase in cocoa bean exports to the United States, with figures reaching $142 million in 2025. This total marks a substantial jump from the $21.7 million recorded in 2024.
Why it matters
The government aims to shift toward local cocoa processing to capture more economic value, create domestic jobs, and boost foreign exchange earnings. President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to eventually end the export of raw cocoa beans.
Nigeria's cocoa exports saw a 554% increase between 2024 and 2025. Africa currently produces 70% of the world's cocoa, supporting a global chocolate industry valued at over $130 billion.
The players
Bola Tinubu
As the President of Nigeria, he is overseeing the government's transition toward local industrialization of agricultural commodities.
The details
The Nigerian government hosted a Cocoa Value Addition Summit in Abuja to unveil a new industry roadmap focused on industrialization. This strategy seeks to move beyond exporting raw commodities to prioritizing domestic value addition.
Timeline
In 2024, Nigeria exported $21.7 million in cocoa to the U.S.
In 2025, Nigeria exported $142 million in cocoa to the U.S.
In July 2026, President Tinubu announced plans to end raw cocoa exports.
In October 2026, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria disclosed the export figures.
Culture Shift
Nigeria's pivot toward domestic processing reflects a broader continental shift in Africa to capture more value from its own raw resources. This transition challenges the long-standing model of exporting primary commodities to global markets.
Consumers may see shifts in the supply chain as Nigeria transitions to producing more finished cocoa products domestically. These changes may influence the availability of raw cocoa beans versus processed cocoa goods in international markets.
The takeaway
The pivot toward local processing suggests that major cocoa-producing nations are seeking to increase their share of the $130 billion global chocolate market. Developing economies are increasingly focusing on vertical integration to capture profits traditionally held by foreign processors.
Further reading
Learn more about the global market for Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Punch Newspapers.
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Should nations prioritize developing domestic manufacturing over exporting raw agricultural commodities?
