World - Cocoa Beans - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Apr 1, 2024

World - Cocoa Beans - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Chocolate Beans

Chocolate beans, also known as cocoa beans, are the primary ingredient used to produce chocolate. These beans are the seeds sourced from the cocoa tree, scientifically known as Theobroma cacao. The term 'chocolate bean' is somewhat of a misnomer, as the beans are actually seeds found inside the fruit pod of the cocoa tree. These seeds undergo a complex process of fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding, and further processing to transform them into the delicious chocolate products we know and love today.

Cocoa trees are typically found in tropical regions within a specific band of latitude, known as the Cocoa Belt. This belt extends approximately 10 degrees north and south of the equator and includes countries such as Ivory Coast, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among others. The trees thrive in hot, humid climates with well-distributed rainfall and require a combination of shade, moisture, and a specific soil type to grow successfully.

The cocoa tree produces large fruit pods, usually about 15-30 centimeters long, with a rough, thick, and bitter skin. Each pod contains an average of 30-40 cocoa beans embedded in a sweet, white, mucilaginous pulp. The beans come in various colors depending on the variety of cocoa and the stage of maturity. Red, purple, and yellow are the most common hues. After harvesting, the pods are carefully split open to extract the seeds.

Once the beans are removed from the pods, they are exposed to a process called fermentation. This step is crucial for the development of cocoa flavor. Fermentation involves piling the beans in shallow containers or covering them with banana leaves and allowing them to ferment for a few days. During fermentation, natural yeasts and bacteria break down the pulp surrounding the beans, initiating chemical reactions that generate heat and release aromatic compounds.

After fermentation, the beans are spread out to dry either in the sun or using specialized drying equipment. This step typically takes about a week, during which the moisture content of the beans reduces significantly. Drying helps to prevent spoilage and prepares the beans for storage and further processing. The sun-dried beans may go through additional artificial drying or conditioning to achieve the desired moisture content and quality.

Roasting is the next crucial step in the chocolate bean transformation process. The dried beans are roasted, usually at temperatures ranging from 120 to 150 degrees Celsius. Roasting alters the chemical composition of the beans, developing the desired chocolate flavor and aroma. Additionally, it helps to remove any remaining moisture, removes the outer shell, and sterilizes the beans, making them safe to consume. The roasting time and temperature are carefully monitored to achieve the desired flavor profile.

Once roasted, the beans are cooled and winnowed to remove the outer shell, resulting in pieces called cocoa nibs. These nibs are then ground into a paste known as chocolate liquor or cocoa mass, which consists of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. The liquor can be further processed to separate the cocoa solids from the cocoa butter, and additional ingredients such as sugar, milk, and flavors can be added to create different types of chocolate products.

In summary, chocolate beans, or cocoa beans, undergo a complex journey from being seeds inside the cocoa fruit pods to becoming the basis of the delicious chocolate we enjoy. The entire process includes fermentation, drying, roasting, and grinding, which transform the beans into chocolate liquor, the building block of various chocolate products.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global cocoa bean market. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • FCL 661 - Cocoa beans

Country coverage:

Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries:

+ the largest producing countries

Data coverage:

  • Global market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Global production, split by region and country
  • Global trade (exports and imports)
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. COUNTRIES WITH TOP YIELDS
    4. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    5. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. GLOBAL PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY
    3. HARVESTED AREA AND YIELD BY COUNTRY
  8. 8. GLOBAL IMPORTS

    The Largest Importers on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2023
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  9. 9. GLOBAL EXPORTS

    The Largest Exporters on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2023
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    • United States
    • China
    • Japan
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Brazil
    • Italy
    • Russian Federation
    • India
    • Canada
    • Australia
    • Republic of Korea
    • Spain
    • Mexico
    • Indonesia
    • Netherlands
    • Turkey
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Switzerland
    • Sweden
    • Nigeria
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Argentina
    • Norway
    • Austria
    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Colombia
    • Denmark
    • South Africa
    • Malaysia
    • Israel
    • Singapore
    • Egypt
    • Philippines
    • Finland
    • Chile
    • Ireland
    • Pakistan
    • Greece
    • Portugal
    • Kazakhstan
    • Algeria
    • Czech Republic
    • Qatar
    • Peru
    • Romania
    • Vietnam
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2023
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    3. Market Value, 2012–2023
    4. Per Capita Consumption, By Country, 2018–2023
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    6. Harvested Area, By Country, 2012-2023
    7. Yield, By Country, 2012-2023
    8. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    9. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    10. Import Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2023
    11. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    12. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    13. Export Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2023
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    2. Market Value, 2012–2023
    3. Consumption, By Country, 2023
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    6. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    7. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    8. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    9. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    10. Production Volume And Growth
    11. Yield And Growth
    12. Exports And Growth
    13. Export Prices And Growth
    14. Market Size And Growth
    15. Per Capita Consumption
    16. Imports And Growth
    17. Import Prices
    18. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    19. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    20. Area Harvested, 2012–2023
    21. Yield, 2012–2023
    22. Production, By Country, 2023
    23. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    24. Harvested Area, By Country, 2023
    25. Harvested Area, By Country, 2012-2023
    26. Yield, By Country, 2012-2023
    27. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    28. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    29. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2023
    30. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    31. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    32. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2023
    33. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2023
    34. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2023
    35. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2023
    36. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    37. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2023
    38. Export Prices, 2012–2023
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Blog
Event
Top 10 Import Markets for Cocoa Bean in the World
Mar 8, 2024
Eye 155

Discover the top 10 countries by import value of cocoa beans in the global market. Learn about key statistics and market trends in the cocoa bean industry.

The Global Cocoa Market Struggles for Restoring Plummeted Demand
Apr 7, 2021
Eye 1597

The closure of the HoReCa segment caused the demand for cocoa beans to collapse in 2020, while the production remained stable. This led to a surge in unsold cocoa bean stocks in exporter-countries. EU chocolate producers are now trying to enlist a range of measures to ensure stable demand and secure supply chains on the cocoa bean market. 

Which Country Imports the Most Cocoa Beans in the World?
Jul 26, 2018
Eye 615

In 2016, the amount of cocoa bean imported worldwide stood at X tons, surging by X% against the previous year figure. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +X% from X>

Which Country Exports the Most Cocoa Beans in the World?
Jul 26, 2018
Eye 3281

In 2016, the global cocoa bean exports totaled X tons, falling by -X% against the previous year level. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +X% over the period from ...

Which Country Consumes the Most Cocoa Beans in the World?
Feb 9, 2018
Eye 6480

Global cocoa consumption amounted to X thousand tons in 2015, picking up by +X% against the previous year level.

Which Country Exports the Most Cocoa Beans in the World?
Feb 1, 2018
Eye 1558

In value terms, cocoa beans exports amounted to $X in 2016. Overall, it indicated a strong increase from 2007 to 2016: the total exports value increased at an average annual rate of +X% over the l...

Which Country Imports the Most Cocoa Beans in the World?
Jan 25, 2018
Eye 10470

In value terms, cocoa beans imports stood at $X in 2016. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +X% over the period from 2007 to 2016; the trend pattern indicated some notic...

Which Country Produces the Most Cocoa in the World?
Oct 23, 2017
Eye 1661

In 2015, the countries with the highest levels of cocao production were Côte D'Ivoire (X thousand tons), Ghana (X thousand tons), Indonesia (X thousand tons), together accounting for X% of total output.

Cocoa Bean Market - Côte d'Ivoire’s Cocoa Bean Exports Surged 49% in 2014
Sep 22, 2015
Eye 1407

Côte d'Ivoire dominates in the global сocoa bean trade. In 2014, Côte d'Ivoire exported X thousand tons of сocoa beans totaling X million USD, X% over the previous year. Its primary trading partner was the U.S., where it supplied X% of its

Free Data: Cocoa Beans - World