• Ghana non-traditional agricultural exports rose 37.8% to $710 million

• Cashew led earnings; shea surged on anticipated export ban

• Growth signals diversification beyond cocoa, despite price risks

Ghana’s non-traditional agricultural exports generated $710.3 million in 2025, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) said, up 37.82% from $515.41 million a year earlier.

The category includes all agricultural exports except cocoa, which is classified as a traditional export, as well as processed agricultural products, according to GEPA’s annual non-traditional export statistics report published on Sunday.

Ghana’s Non-Traditional Export Product Categories

Cashew Leads Growth

Growth was broad-based, but cashew nuts remained the main driver and ranked as Ghana’s second-largest agricultural export after cocoa. Export revenues from cashew rose 10% year-on-year to $297.59 million in 2025 and accounted for 42% of total receipts from non-traditional agricultural products, GEPA said.

Shea nuts ranked second and generated $177.79 million, more than double the $82.1 million recorded in 2024, and recorded the fastest growth among the top three products. GEPA attributed the surge to policy shifts, notably an anticipated ban on raw shea nut exports announced in July 2025, which prompted exporters to accelerate shipments before the measure takes effect.

Bananas ranked third and earned $75.99 million, up 27% from the previous year.

Broad-Based Gains

Beyond the top three, most other agricultural export products recorded revenue increases. “Emerging export sectors such as livestock and cut flowers also saw notable gains, backed by targeted government initiatives to strengthen the agricultural value chain,” GEPA said.

Ghana’s Top 10 Non-Traditional Agricultural Export Products

Rising revenues from non-traditional agricultural exports point to a gradual diversification of Ghana’s export base beyond cocoa, which still accounts for a significant share of agricultural export earnings.

Sustaining this momentum will be key to supporting the country’s food trade balance in the coming years.

The outlook is uncertain, however, as cocoa prices have fallen sharply from their 2024 peak on international markets and could weigh on export performance in 2026.

Ghana is one of a few African countries that are net exporters of agri-food products, largely due to its cocoa sector.

Data from the Ghana Statistical Service show the country recorded a food trade surplus of 7.15 billion cedis, or about $646.3 million, in 2024.

Stéphanas Assocle