Agri-food trade between Ghana and the European Union: what you need to know
(Agence Ecofin) – Ghana is one of the few African countries—alongside South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya—to post a trade surplus in agri-food products. West Africa’s second-largest economy is seeking to strengthen its trade ties with the European Union in this sector.
On October 28 and 29, Accra will host Ghanaian and European companies from the agri-food sector for the EU-Ghana Agribusiness Exhibition & Forum 2026. Held under the theme "Where Europe Meets Ghana," the event aims to foster trade, partnerships, and investment opportunities between the two markets.
This gathering takes place against the backdrop of the European Union already being a key trading partner for the West African nation in the agri-food sector. In 2025, trade was marked by a significant surge in Ghanaian exports to Europe.
Cocoa dominates Ghanaian exports
According to the European Commission, Ghana’s exports of agricultural and food products to the EU reached €2.91 billion (approximately US$3.277 billion) in 2025, up from €1.73 billion in 2024—an increase of 68.7%. However, this growth is heavily concentrated in raw materials.
Cocoa plays a particularly vital role in this trade relationship. Exports of cocoa and cocoa-based preparations alone accounted for approximately €2.63 billion—representing over 90% of Ghana’s agri-food exports to the EU in 2025. Nuts, vegetable oils and fats, and vegetables trailed far behind. EU exports more animal products to Ghana
In the other direction, EU agri-food exports to Ghana reached €775 million in 2025, up from €684 million in 2024. They thus remain significantly lower than Ghanaian exports to the European market.
Over the 2021–2025 period, European shipments fluctuated: they went from €706 million in 2021 to €662 million in 2022, then to €572 million in 2023, before rising again to €684 million in 2024 and €775 million in 2025.
In 2025, animal-based products were the leading category of European exports to Ghana, totaling €337 million—or 43.5% of the total. Poultry and eggs accounted for €185 million, followed by dairy products (€80 million) and beef and veal (€45 million). Plant-based products and arable crops amounted to €182 million, while beverages, wines, and food preparations reached €163 million.
New European requirements to be adopted
However, this trade dynamic is unfolding within an evolving European regulatory landscape. For Ghanaian exporters, a key change involves the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which is particularly significant for cocoa, as well as coffee, rubber, and palm oil. Implementation will begin on December 30, 2026, for large and medium-sized operators, followed by June 30, 2027, for most micro-enterprises and small businesses.
Other European regulations are also set to alter the conditions under which products are marketed within the EU. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), applicable from August 2026, progressively introduces new requirements regarding recyclability, recycled content, packaging reduction, and reuse.
Starting December 14, 2027, the EU regulation on forced labor will prohibit the placing on the EU market of products made using forced labor. This measure covers all products—including agricultural goods—and provides for investigations that could lead to a ban on the sale of the products in question. For Ghanaian companies, therefore, boosting trade with the EU also depends on their ability to incorporate these new requirements, given that the European market is already a major outlet for their agri-food products.
