Construction works on the largest cocoa processing facility and warehouse in Ivory Coast has been completed. Developed by China Light Industry Nannin
Construction works on the largest cocoa processing facility and warehouse in Ivory Coast has been completed. Developed by China Light Industry Nanning Design Engineering, the 21-hectare facility, is located in the PK24 industrial zone near Abidjan.
The facility is the second such project built in the country by China Light Industry Nanning Design Engineering. It is situated in San Pedro, a major port city. The $200 million investment for the project was funded by the Chinese government, with repayment structured through cocoa bean deliveries. Together, these two plants will have the capacity to process 100,000 tonnes of cocoa annually and store up to 300,000 tonnes. Under the repayment agreement, 40% of the processed cocoa will be sent to China.
Largest cocoa producer
Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, earned approximately $3.3 billion from cocoa exports in 2022. A significant share of its cocoa was shipped to European markets and the U.S., while China’s imports remained relatively small at $369,000.
Now that the factories are operational, experts anticipate a potential rise in global chocolate prices, particularly in Europe and North America. Supply constraints in recent years have already affected the cocoa market, and increased local processing could impact global distribution.
The investment aims to strengthen Ivory Coast’s role in the chocolate industry by retaining more value from its cocoa production. Despite supplying nearly 40% of the world’s cocoa beans, the country sees only a small fraction of the revenue from the global chocolate market, which is valued at around $140 billion and expected to grow to $200 billion by 2030. Presently, a few major companies dominate the industry, while cocoa farmers receive a minimal share of the total earnings.