Ecuador Set to Overtake Ghana as World’s No. 2 Cocoa Producer – 22 September 2025

Ecuador Poised to Become the World’s No. 2 Cocoa Producer

Ecuador is on track to overtake Ghana and become the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, according to data released on 22 September 2025. Industry group Anecacao projects the country’s 2025/26 harvest could surpass 650,000 metric tons, a milestone that would move Ecuador ahead of Ghana, which is expected to produce about 600,000 tons.

Several factors are driving this rapid rise. Record-high global cocoa prices have encouraged farmers to invest in new trees, fertilizers, and modern techniques. Ecuador’s climate has also been favorable, with fewer plant diseases and an expanding agroforestry system—planting cocoa trees under natural forest cover—that protects soil health and reduces disease risk.

By contrast, Ghana, long the world’s No. 2 cocoa grower, faces headwinds. Illegal mining and the spread of swollen-shoot disease are curbing yields. In the 2024/25 season Ecuador already produced roughly 570,000 tons, putting it within reach of Ghana’s output.

One advantage Ecuadorian farmers enjoy is pricing: they receive about 90 percent of the global market price, compared with 60–70 percent for growers in West Africa. That higher payout gives farmers strong incentives to expand production and adopt sustainable practices such as shade-grown cocoa, improved seedlings, and better disease control.

Ecuador’s yields now average 800 kilograms per hectare, well above West Africa’s typical 500 kilograms or less. The government and industry leaders aim to lift annual output to 800,000 tons by 2030, which would cement the country’s position as a global cocoa powerhouse and significantly increase export revenue.

Although international prices have eased slightly from early-2025 peaks, they remain historically high, ensuring that investment in new trees and equipment continues. Agroforestry methods also provide environmental benefits by limiting deforestation and preserving biodiversity, while creating jobs and income for rural communities.

If these trends persist, Ecuador’s ascent will reshape the global cocoa market, influencing both supply dynamics and price structures over the next several years.