Nigeria’s cocoa bean exports to the United States reached $142 million in 2025, a sharp rise from the $21.7 million recorded in 2024.
The US Mission in Nigeria disclosed that cocoa bean exports to the United States rose from $21.7 million in 2024 to $142 million in 2025, attributing the growth to rising demand within the American market.
This surge in export value provides a boost to Nigeria’s non-oil foreign exchange earnings. The increase in trade volume demonstrates a strengthening economic link between the two nations in the agricultural commodity sector.
Production constraints face industry
Despite the substantial increase in revenue, the domestic cocoa industry is currently grappling with production constraints that could limit future growth. While demand in the United States is climbing, the capacity of Nigerian farmers to scale up supply is being tested by several structural issues.
Cocoa-producing regions in Nigeria are currently battling ageing tree stocks and a lack of modern farming equipment. Furthermore, the industry is facing pressure from pests and diseases, alongside erratic weather patterns that disrupt traditional planting and harvesting cycles. These factors have contributed to inconsistent yields across the cocoa belt.
The high cost of essential inputs, such as fertilisers and pesticides, has also placed a burden on smallholder farmers. Without better access to credit and affordable agricultural inputs, meeting the growing appetite of the US market remains a major challenge for the local supply chain.
Beyond increasing raw production, analysts suggest that Nigeria must prioritise local value addition to maximise its gains. Most of the current exports consist of raw cocoa beans, which fetch lower prices than processed goods. Transitioning toward the export of cocoa butter, powder, and liquor would allow Nigeria to capture a larger share of the value chain.
The ability of the agricultural sector to sustain this upward trajectory in US exports will depend on the speed at which the government and private investors address the underlying productivity issues and invest in processing infrastructure.
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