Beyond Cocoa: Côte d'Ivoire's Main Exports and What They Mean for Asian Companies

Mention Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer) and most people think only of cocoa. Yet its export basket is remarkably diverse, from cashew nuts and rubber to gold and oil. Understanding the scale of each product helps you judge where the overlap with Asian markets is greatest.

Export overview

According to Ivorian customs data, total exports in 2023 reached 12.3 trillion CFA francs, up from 9.2 trillion in 2022. Four categories — cocoa beans and products, petroleum products, gold and natural rubber — together accounted for 70.1% of exports. The World Bank's WITS database puts total 2023 exports at about US$18.35 billion.

Main exports at a glance

Cashew and rubber deserve particular attention. Cashew output fluctuates considerably: 1,225,935 tonnes were marketed in 2023, falling to 944,673 tonnes in 2024 before rebounding sharply in 2025. Domestic processing reached 659,579 tonnes in 2025 (against 344,026 tonnes in 2024), a processing rate of 43%; Côte d'Ivoire is now the world's third-largest processor of raw cashew nuts and the second-largest exporter of cashew kernels. Rubber has become the second-largest agricultural source of foreign exchange, but local processing has long been limited; at the end of 2025 the industry adopted a new development roadmap aimed at keeping more added value in the country.

Gold and oil have been the fastest-growing sectors in recent years. According to the mining authorities, gold output rose from 51.3 tonnes in 2023 to 59.1 tonnes in 2024. The Baleine field, developed by Italy's Eni together with the national oil company Petroci and other partners, has been described as the largest oil and gas discovery in Côte d'Ivoire's history, and the country's first commercially viable discovery in twenty years.

Where exports go: Asia is already on the list

According to World Bank WITS data, Côte d'Ivoire's top five export markets in 2023 were the Netherlands (11.5%), Switzerland (10.6%), Mali (8.7%), Malaysia (5.0%) and Vietnam (5.0%). The main buyers of cashew nuts are Vietnam and India: in 2025, more than 860,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts were sold to these markets.

In the other direction, China and India are major sources of Ivorian imports, accounting for 14.8% and 5.2% of imports respectively in 2023.

What this means for Asian companies

First, raw-material sourcing. Products such as cashew and rubber already flow to Asia in large volumes for processing, so Asian buyers are no strangers to these supply chains.

Second, demand created by local processing. The government continues to promote local processing of cashew and rubber; higher processing rates mean growing demand for processing equipment, technology, packaging and quality-control services.

Third, mining and energy. With gold output growing fast and the Baleine field continuing to expand, the related equipment, engineering and services are also worth watching.

One line for Asian companies

Côte d'Ivoire is not just a cocoa producer but an exporter with a diverse commodity base that is pushing for local processing; starting from a product you already know will make it easier to find your place than starting from cocoa.

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References: Ecofin Agency – Côte d'Ivoire's trade balance in 2023 (2024); World Bank WITS – Côte d'Ivoire Trade Summary 2023; AllAfrica/Fratmat – Filière cajou (2026); Économie ivoirienne – Caoutchouc naturel (2024); Financial Afrik – Numéro trois mondial du caoutchouc (2026); Économie ivoirienne – Production d'or; Offshore Technology – Eni Baleine Phase 3 FID (2026); USDA FAS – Côte d'Ivoire Oilseeds and Products 2024 Revised Update