Ghana has secured new export commitments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia for its semi-finished cocoa products, marking a significant step towards expanding international markets and strengthening local cocoa processing.
The agreements, signed on July 7, 2026, are expected to create sustained demand for cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake and cocoa powder produced by Ghana’s processing factories.
The Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) said the deals were concluded following trade engagements led by its Managing Director, Dr. Wisdom Dogbey, as part of efforts to diversify Ghana’s export destinations and reduce dependence on raw cocoa bean exports.
During a visit to Dubai, the CMC delegation met officials of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) to explore opportunities for linking Ghanaian cocoa products with processors and commodity traders across the Middle East and Asia.
The discussions focused on expanding market access for Ghana’s value-added cocoa products while strengthening the country’s presence in emerging international markets.
In Saudi Arabia, CMC also secured supply commitments to serve the country’s growing confectionery and food-processing industry, driven by its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.
According to the company, the new agreements support the government’s ambition to process at least 50 per cent of Ghana’s cocoa domestically by creating reliable export markets for locally manufactured products.
CMC said guaranteed international demand would encourage greater investment in local processing, improve factory utilisation and increase value addition within Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The company described the agreements as a major milestone in its strategy to diversify export markets and strengthen Ghana’s position in the global cocoa value chain.
It reaffirmed its commitment to opening new international markets for Ghanaian cocoa products while supporting efforts to maximise returns from one of the country’s most important export commodities.
