Top African countries by chocolate export value in 2020

On 2020's World Chocolate Day, an annual celebration of chocolate, we look at the top 12 African countries with the highest chocolate export value in 2020 -- a combined $421.43m.

Source:

Period:

2020
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Mining led South Africa’s 2024 exports with 18.7%, as gems and precious metals generated over $20 bn
  • Gems and precious metals were the largest single export category, contributing $20.6 billion.
  • Ores and industrial minerals followed closely with $17.2 billion, showing the country’s reliance on mining.
  • Vehicles and machinery were significant non-mineral exports, with a combined $18.3 billion.
  • Agricultural and light industry products like fruits, nuts, and beverages contributed modestly, strengthening mining and manufacturing’s position as the core export drivers.
Cocoa accounted for 4.6% of Nigeria’s 2024 exports, making it the country’s second-largest export after oil
  • Mineral fuels (including crude oil) accounted for $49.3 billion, or 86.8% of total exports in 2024.
  • Non-oil exports remained marginal, with the second-largest item, cocoa, contributing only 4.6%.
  • Fertilisers, ores, slag, ash, and oilseeds collectively made up less than 5%, indicating limited diversification.
  • All other export categories each contributed 1% or less, underscoring Nigeria’s narrow export base.
Nigeria's energy goods imports have stayed low and stable for 7 years, while exports increased from ₦37B to ₦263B
  • Nigeria’s energy goods exports rose from ₦37.3B in 2017 to ₦262.9B in 2024, before falling to ₦154.2B in H1 2025.
  • Imports remained consistently low, ranging from ₦24.2M to ₦353.1M throughout the period.
  • Export growth outpaced imports, showing a widening trade surplus in energy goods.
  • The 2024 spike in exports represents the highest export value within the nine-year window.
  • Energy imports stayed below ₦400M yearly, indicating low dependency on foreign energy goods.
Nigeria's agricultural imports' share has been dropping, from 83.9% (2017) to a low of 42.9% (H1 2025)
  • Agricultural imports fell from 83.9% in 2017 to 42.9% in H1 2025, indicating a significant decline in import dependency.
  • Agricultural exports grew from 16.1% in 2017 to 54.0% in 2024, surpassing imports for the first time since 2017.
  • Total agricultural trade increased from ₦1.1 trillion in 2017 to ₦8.2 trillion in 2024.
  • Between 2022 and 2024, the import share dropped significantly from 75.7% to 46.0%.
Crude oil imports in Nigeria emerged in H1 2025 (the first since 2017), capturing a 10.2% share of the total crude oil trade
  • Crude oil imports into Nigeria in H1 2025 marked the first occurrence since 2017.
  • Crude oil imports accounted for 10.2% of total crude oil trade.
  • From 2017 to 2024, exports made up 100% of crude oil trade annually.
  • Total crude oil trade peaked at ₦55.3 trillion in 2024.
  • The emergence of crude oil imports can be linked to domestic refinery operations, especially the Dangote Refinery.
Nigeria's manufactured goods trade is overwhelmingly import-dependent, with imports consistently exceeding 85% since 2017
  • Imports have consistently exceeded 85% of Nigeria's manufactured goods trade since 2017.
  • In H1 2025, imports accounted for 93.3% of the total ₦16.5 trillion trade.
  • Nigeria’s export share in the manufactured goods trade was only 6.7% in H1 2025.
  • The highest export share in the past eight years was 14.8% in 2019.
  • Total manufactured goods trade grew from ₦4.9 trillion in 2017 to ₦29.1 trillion in 2024.
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