Ghana has secured stable freight rates for the 2025/26 cocoa crop season, shielding exporters from the volatility affecting global shipping markets.

This follows high-level negotiations in Rouen, France, where the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), and 20 international shipping lines reached a consensus to maintain predictable rates.

Under the new agreement, shipping cocoa to the UK will cost £32 per tonne; northern Europe, €56.72; Brazil, US$122.05; Japan, US$111.39; and Mediterranean Europe, €63.67.

These rates include bunker adjustment factors and will be paid in US dollars, based on Reuters exchange rates at the time of shipment.

The annual Cocoa Freight Negotiations have become a cornerstone of Ghana’s cocoa value chain, offering exporters consistency and helping the country remain competitive.

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GSA Chief Executive, Professor Ransford Gyampo, described the forum as a “strategic space for dialogue and partnership,” especially vital as global shipping grapples with rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty.

Professor Gyampo noted that the agreement aligns with Ghana’s broader push to modernise its ports and logistics infrastructure.

The second phase of the MPS Terminal at Tema is now fully operational, Takoradi has undergone major upgrades, and the Boankra Inland Port, currently 80 percent complete, is poised to connect exporters from Ghana’s interior and neighboring landlocked countries.

He stressed that digitalisation and sustainability would be the key pillars for the future.

“These facilities, together with ongoing automation and the 24-hour port policy, will cut costs, improve turnaround times, and make Ghana’s cocoa trade more competitive,” he said.

“With many shipping lines rolling out e-services for documents and Bills of Lading, we must harmonise processes so that digital tools are more accessible to small and medium exporters,” he added.

On the environmental front, Ghana’s Cocoa Traceability System and alignment with the International Maritime Organisation’s green shipping strategy reflect a firm commitment to sustainability.

The 2025/26 deal not only secures revenue for the government but also strengthens Ghana’s position in the global cocoa market, keeping pace with rivals such as Côte d’Ivoire.

SA/MA

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