African Cocoa Giants Forge Alliance to End Raw Exports by 2026, Navigating EU Regulations
Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon are poised to significantly reshape the global cocoa landscape with a landmark initiative to cease raw cocoa bean exports by 2026. This strategic collaboration, aimed at bolstering Africa’s position in the international chocolate industry, will see the establishment of a Cocoa Value Addition Alliance. The alliance is set to be formalised through the signing of the Abuja Declaration at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026, signalling a unified approach to policy coordination, quality standards, trade negotiations, and market access.
This concerted effort by the four nations, which collectively dominate approximately two-thirds of global cocoa production, underscores a strategic pivot towards capturing greater value within the global chocolate industry. As reported by Brandspur Brand News, Nigeria will also execute a separate Cocoa Value Addition Accord. This domestic agreement will involve key stakeholders including cocoa-producing state governments, farmers’ associations, processors, researchers, and development finance institutions. The accord is designed to stimulate investment across the entire cocoa value chain, expand domestic processing capabilities, and ultimately enhance farmer earnings through coordinated implementation strategies.
Oversight of the Nigerian accord will be vested in a delivery council chaired by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh. This council will be responsible for monitoring progress and industry performance through annual reports, ensuring accountability and driving the initiative’s objectives.
The timing of this alliance is critical, occurring amidst substantial volatility in global cocoa markets, which have experienced sharp price fluctuations over the past 18 months. A key focus for the alliance will be a unified stance on compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation. This regulation, effective from December 30, 2026, mandates stringent traceability requirements for cocoa exported to the EU. Member countries are expected to advocate for the recognition of their national traceability systems and to ensure that smallholder farmers are not disproportionately burdened by compliance costs.
Further discussions at the summit will address financing mechanisms for cocoa processing projects, with significant involvement anticipated from development finance institutions such as the Bank of Industry and NIRSAL. Stakeholders will also receive updates on the 70,000-metric-tonne cocoa processing plant under construction in Sagamu, Ogun State, slated for commissioning in 2027. This collective move by Africa’s leading cocoa producers signals a determined shift from exporting raw commodities to developing robust domestic manufacturing industries capable of producing high-value finished cocoa products for both regional and international markets, presenting significant opportunities and challenges for legal and compliance professionals.
