Ecuador is on track to surpass Ghana as the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, with projections showing output could exceed 650,000 metric tons in the 2026/27 season.
Iván Ontaneda, chairman of Ecuador’s cocoa exporters’ association (Anecacao), said the country’s production has been rising steadily thanks to heavy investments from both government and private stakeholders, coupled with farmers capitalizing on record-high cocoa prices. “Ecuador’s production has shown steady growth for years, while Ghana’s production has been volatile,” Ontaneda told Reuters.
Last year, global cocoa prices more than doubled to over $12,000 per ton following poor harvests and disease outbreaks in Ghana and Ivory Coast, which together supply nearly half of the world’s cocoa. Prices have since fallen by about a third but remain historically high, creating strong incentives for Ecuadorian farmers, who currently receive about 90% of the world market price—far higher than the 60–70% earned by farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
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Ecuador’s farms also boast significantly higher yields, averaging around 800 kilograms per hectare, compared to under 500 kilograms in Ghana and other West African nations. Industry projections suggest Ecuador could reach 570,000 tons in 2025/26 and as much as 800,000 tons by the end of the decade. Ghana, meanwhile, is forecast to produce roughly 600,000 tons in 2025/26, hampered by illegal mining on cocoa farms and the spread of cocoa swollen shoot virus disease.
Unlike West Africa’s monoculture systems, Ecuador cultivates cocoa through agroforestry methods that integrate shade trees, plantain, coffee, and fruits. This approach enhances biodiversity while helping protect crops from disease.
If these trends continue, Ecuador is expected to consolidate its position ahead of Ghana in the global cocoa rankings, leaving Ivory Coast firmly in the top spot as the world’s largest producer.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem