Ghana has concluded new freight rates for the shipment of cocoa for the 2025/26 crop season after intense negotiations with major global shipping lines in Rouen, France. The talks, held on Thursday, 28th August, brought together the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), and 20 international carriers to set the cost of moving cocoa beans from Ghana to world markets.
What the Cocoa Freight Negotiations are
The Cocoa Freight Negotiations (CFN) have, for more than two decades, been a pillar of Ghana’s cocoa value chain. They provide a platform where Ghana sits with shipping lines to agree freight rates and technical arrangements. The meetings ensure predictability for shippers and stability for carriers, while strengthening long-term business ties.
Prof. Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive of the GSA, described the forum as a “strategic space for dialogue and partnership” that has safeguarded Ghana’s cocoa trade over the years.
The New Rates for 2025/26
Under the new agreement, shipments to the United Kingdom will cost £32.00 per tonne with a Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) of 28 percent. Rates for northern Europe were set at €56.72, Estonia at €64.83, and Mediterranean Europe at €63.67, all carrying a BAF of 30 percent.
For the long-haul routes, the Far East rate is US$105.46 per tonne, Japan US$111.39, and Brazil US$122.05, including BAF.
Payments will be made in US dollars, converted at Reuters exchange rates on the date of the Bill of Lading. All other shipment conditions, such as the supply of dressing materials by shipping lines and container stuffing by CMC, remain unchanged.
How Rates Compare
The new rates follow a trend of moderate adjustments in recent years. In 2022/23, the United Kingdom paid £31.50 per tonne, while northern Europe ranged from €54.02 to €56.60. Mediterranean Europe stood between €60.64 and €63.53, and Brazil cost between US$116 and US$122 per tonne. In 2024/25, rates rose by about five percent on average, with northern Europe fixed at €56.72, Mediterranean Europe at €63.67, and Brazil at US$122.05. The 2025/26 outcome shows continuity, with Japan now singled out at US$111.39.
Global and Local Backdrop
Prof. Gyampo noted that the new season begins at a time of “considerable change and complexity” in the global maritime industry. Freight rates worldwide, while showing some stability, remain vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, energy price swings, and shipping disruptions.
Domestically, Ghana has invested heavily in trade infrastructure. Phase II of the MPS Terminal at Tema is fully integrated, while Takoradi Port has seen major upgrades. Phae 1 of the Boankra Inland Port, which is 80 percent complete, is expected to open soon, extending port services inland to serve Ghana’s middle and northern belts as well as neighbouring landlocked countries.
“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,” Prof. Gyampo said.
Digitalisation and Sustainability
Prof. Gyampo also emphasised the need for greater digitalisation in shipping. With many shipping lines rolling out e-services for documents and Bills of Lading, he urged harmonisation through standard operating procedures to make digital tools more accessible to small and medium exporters.
He further stressed environmental sustainability as a “non-negotiable pillar,” noting Ghana’s alignment with the IMO’s green shipping strategy. He pointed to the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System as proof of Ghana’s readiness to link sustainability with trade.
Why it matters for Ghana
For a country that earns over 70 percent of its foreign exchange from cocoa, these talks are not routine. Freight charges can determine how much value is retained after beans are sold abroad. Competitive rates make Ghana’s cocoa attractive against rivals like Côte d’Ivoire.
As the 2025/26 season opens, the Rouen agreement provides clarity for exporters and stability for government revenue. With shipping lines pledging faster release of Bills of Lading, and Ghana pushing ahead with port upgrades, the logistics chain for cocoa is expected to be stronger and more efficient in the year ahead
