Ghana’s top 10 non-traditional export (NTE) products generated $3.28 billion in earnings in 2025, representing a 53% increase from the $2.15 billion recorded in 2024, according to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.
The strong performance highlights the growing importance of value-added exports, particularly processed cocoa products, in driving the country’s export diversification strategy. Data from GEPA’s 2025 Non-Traditional Export Statistics report shows that the top ten products accounted for about 65.48% of total NTE earnings, with an average export value of $327.86 million per product.
Processed cocoa products dominated the export rankings in 2025. Cocoa paste emerged as the top export product, generating $789.3 million, representing a 70.97% increase compared to 2024. Cocoa butter followed with one of the most significant growth rates among the leading exports, rising by 120.18% to $635.7 million, while cocoa powder exports also surged by 112.97% to $233.8 million.
The strong performance reflects rising global demand for cocoa-based ingredients used in chocolate manufacturing, beverages and cosmetics.
Agricultural commodities also maintained a strong presence among the top exports. Cashew nuts generated $297.6 million, recording a 10.15% increase due to sustained global demand. Shea nuts (karite nuts) recorded remarkable growth, increasing by 116.51% to $177.8 million, while shea oil exports rose by 15.43%to $174.3 million, supported by increasing demand for natural ingredients used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
Manufactured products also contributed significantly to export earnings. Articles of plastics increased by 37.85% to $275.4 million, while aluminium plates, sheets and coils rose by 50.48% to $164.8 million, driven by demand in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
In the fisheries sector, canned tuna exports grew by 37.34% to $213.5 million, reflecting strong demand for processed seafood in international markets.
However, exports of iron and steel products, including circles, rods, sheets and billets, recorded a slight decline of 1.59% to $316.5 million, largely due to fluctuating global prices and rising competition in the international market.
Overall, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority report points to a growing shift toward processed and higher-value export products, particularly within the cocoa and shea value chains, as Ghana continues efforts to strengthen its non-traditional export sector.
