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The global cocoa industry is undergoing significant changes which are fueled by increasing demand for this commodity in the food, beverages, confectionary, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industry to name just a few. Cocoa lovers all over the world are looking for functional products with natural and traceable origins, clean labels, and sustainable sourcing.
Now, as a cocoa trader or exporter, you need to stay on top of these consumer requirements to ensure long-term profits.
“The global cocoa market is only going to grow further as more consumers become aware of the importance of healthy, ethically sourced, and premium quality products with traceable origins.”, says the founder of Geohoney and the CEO of BA Barry Group, Mr. Basem Barry.
This blog is going to cover some major cocoa powder trends in 2025 that every exporter must consider if they are looking to stay ahead of the competition and leverage the opportunities that this rising industry has to offer, so keep on reading till the end.
Current Cocoa Powder Market Size and Future Forecast
Key Cocoa Powder Trends in 2025 That Exporters Need to Know
Mandatory Sustainability Regulations
Increasing Demand for Clean Label and Organic Cocoa
More Interest in Premium Quality Single-Origin Cocoa Powder
Rising Awareness of Health and Wellness
Digital Transparency and Traceability
Rising Demand in Asia Pacific, European, and North American Areas
As of 2025, the global cocoa powder market is valued at USD 2.7 billion. This market is expected to expand at a rapid CAGR of 2.9% and reach a staggering USD 3.6 billion by 2035.
Direct sale of cocoa will have more market share, i.e., about 73.5% while by type, the natural cocoa powder will dominate the market with a share of 64.3% by the end of 2025.
The key growth regions that are emerging in terms of cocoa exports are East Asian areas like Japan, with a CAGR of 4.3% and the Asia Pacific regions like India, Nepal, and Indonesia.
This rising demand for cocoa powder is due to its countless uses in chocolate-based products, functional foods, vegan products, skincare, and pharmaceutical sectors.
The following is the list of the top producers of bulk cocoa powder in the year 2024/2025 according to the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO).
Côte d’Ivoire (2,230,000 metric tons)
Ghana (883,652 metric tons)
Indonesia (700,000 metric tons)
Nigeria (287,000 metric tons)
Brazil (250,000 metric tons)
Ecuador (250,000 metric tons)
The following are some emerging trends that anyone who is exporting organic products like cocoa powder needs to keep in mind.
One major trend influencing this market for exporters is the transformation of sustainability regulations from voluntary to mandatory requirements. Every producer and exporter is expected to reorganize their operations to prioritize environmental preservation and the safety and health of people.
The EU is leading the way in mandatory sustainability regulations with its Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) policies.
The goals of these policies are to reduce products that are causing deforestation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent biodiversity loss, and improve corporate accountability in terms of global environmental impact.
Businesses have to strive to obtain third-party certifications like Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and organic to build customer trust. Looking at these trends it is evident that the focus on sustainability in the cocoa sector is only going to increase and this is what every exporter must prepare themselves for.
Exporters also need to acquire clean-label, less processed, and natural cocoa powder. Most consumers are looking for all-natural, healthy, and organic cocoa powder to use as a functional ingredient in baked goods, food and beverages, and natural remedies.
Cocoa powder is being increasingly used in Keto recipes, supplements, and low-sugar chocolate applications, which are on the rise in regions like North America, Europe, and Asia.
Exporters can target these markets by offering them non-GMO, non-alkalized, and organic cocoa powder. Providing lab data on flavonoid contents, ORAC values, and heavy metal concentrations can further impress the buyers looking to source quality cocoa powder.
Another emerging trend is the increasing global demand for single-origin and specific flavored cocoa powder. For example, some importers specifically want Brazilian cocoa powder for use in craft chocolate, gourmet baking, bean-to-bar products, etc.
Exporters can leverage this trend by highlining the origin and terroir of the cocoa they deliver with the product documentation. Another way to build trust among the buyers is to provide them with flavor profiling or batch level traceability.
Cocoa powder is no longer something that we only use in chocolate bars or cakes, it has become a key ingredient in functional foods like protein powders, mood-enhancing snacks, natural beauty products, and nootropic drinks.
This also opens up several pathways for exporters to grow their business. They can target regions where health and wellness trends are surging especially when it comes to food and beverages sectors.
Exporters can partner with sports nutrition, nutraceutical, and plant-based food sectors and present their cocoa powder as a functional ingredient instead of a simple flavoring agent.
Technology has reshaped almost every trade sector, and the cocoa industry is no exception. Importers are looking for suppliers that offer sustainability tracking, real-time pricing, blockchain integration, and digital traceability using tools like AgUnity, FarmForce, and CropIn.
Exporters can build trust with the buyers by digitizing their supply chain, securing spots on B2B cocoa platforms, and offering complete tracking of quality, shipment, and compliance.
Exporters can also look at markets where cocoa consumption is growing at an unprecedented rate. Countries in Europe, such as the UK, Germany, and France, dominate when it comes to cocoa powder consumption, with an impressive 45% global imports.
Countries in North America and Asia Pacific are developing a lot of interest in fair-trade and organic cocoa as well. Countries like China, India, and Indonesia are consuming cocoa-based products at a rate that has never been seen before which is something that exporters must consider to benefits from these growing markets.
The buyer of the 21st century is looking for cocoa powder and cocoa-based products that are prepared using eco-friendly and ethical practices and are delivered via transparent, traceable, and tech-enabled logistics.
The cocoa market is expected to grow even more as the demand for premium chocolate products grows and consumers become more interested than ever in health and wellness trends.
This puts a lot of pressure on the exporters who have to navigate both the changing user demands as well as strict local and international regulations. However, with just a little more effort and by considering the top cocoa powder trends, businesses can still benefit from the countless growth opportunities that this booming industry has to offer.
You can visit BA Barry Group if you are looking to buy top-quality, ethically sourced, and highly pure organic cocoa powder in bulk all over the world.
