Wholesale cocoa is cocoa bought in bulk, by the tonne or the container, from a cocoa manufacturer, exporter or distributor. It covers raw cocoa beans and every product made from them: cocoa nibs, cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa cake, cocoa powder, cocoa shells and cocoa pod husk.
Most buyers start with one product. Then the chocolate line needs butter, the bakery wants powder, and someone in sustainability asks what happens to the shells. This guide maps the whole range so you can buy smarter, from one cocoa supplier, with fewer surprises.
Key takeaways
- One cocoa bean becomes eight wholesale products, from beans to pod husk.
- HS codes sit in chapter 18: beans and nibs 1801, shells and husk 1802, liquor and cake 1803, butter 1804, powder 1805.
- ICCO factors: 1 t butter = 1.33 t beans · 1 t liquor = 1.25 t beans · 1 t powder or cake = 1.18 t beans.
- Buying direct from origin cuts out layers between the farm price and your price.
Wholesale cocoa: eight products from one bean
| Product | What it is | HS code | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa beans | Fermented, sun-dried and graded beans | 1801 | Grinders, chocolate makers, bean-to-bar |
| Cocoa nibs | Roasted, de-shelled bean pieces | 1801 | Bakery, cereals, snacks, toppings |
| Cocoa liquor / mass | Ground nibs, about 50–56% fat | 1803.10 | Chocolate and coating manufacturers |
| Cocoa butter | The fat pressed from liquor | 1804 | Chocolate, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals |
| Cocoa cake | Pressed cocoa solids, 10–22% fat | 1803.20 | Powder millers, food and feed |
| Cocoa powder | Milled cake, natural or alkalized | 1805 | Beverages, bakery, dairy, confectionery |
| Cocoa shells | Bean skins removed during winnowing | 1802 | Mulch, fibre, extracts, feed |
| Cocoa pod husk | The outer pod left after harvest | 1802 | Compost, biomass, feed |
Each product has its own buyer and its own price. Cocoa butter is usually the most valuable part of the bean, while shells and husk are low-cost by-products with growing demand in agriculture and green materials.
Cocoa manufacturer, cocoa supplier or cocoa distributor?
A cocoa manufacturer processes beans into liquor, butter, cake and powder. A cocoa supplier or exporter sells beans and products from the origin country. A cocoa distributor holds stock near you and resells it in smaller lots. All three are useful. The right one depends on your volume.
| Partner | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Direct exporter at origin | Container volumes, traceability, origin data | Longer lead times; you manage import |
| Cocoa manufacturer / processor | Semi-finished products to a tight spec | Fewer choices of bean origin |
| Cocoa distributor | Small lots and fast local delivery | Higher unit price, less origin visibility |
We compare these routes in detail in cocoa distributors vs direct exporters.
How much bean is inside each cocoa product?
The International Cocoa Organization uses conversion factors to express cocoa products in beans. They help you compare a butter or liquor price with the bean price, and size the beans behind a contract.
For example, a 20-tonne cocoa liquor order represents about 25 tonnes of beans (20 × 1.25). A 20-tonne cocoa butter order represents about 26.6 tonnes of beans (20 × 1.33).
How to buy wholesale cocoa, step by step
- Define the spec. Product, grade, fat level, pH, packaging and certifications.
- Request samples. Test them in your own lab and kitchen.
- Agree the pricing basis. Fixed price, or futures plus a differential.
- Choose the Incoterm. FOB Douala if you book freight, CIF if you want delivery to your port.
- Check the documents. COA, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate for beans, and EUDR data for the EU.
- Ship and review. Track the first container closely, then lock in a repeat schedule.
Prices change daily. Check our cocoa market prices and Douala cocoa price per kg before you negotiate.
Don’t forget the by-products: shells and husk
Cocoa shells and pod husk used to be waste. Today they are traded for garden mulch, animal feed, dietary fibre, natural extracts and biomass fuel. Buying them alongside beans or powder can fill a container and lower your average cost. See our guide to cocoa shell granules and husk.
Why buy wholesale cocoa from Cameroon
Cameroon is the world’s fifth-largest cocoa producer. In the 2025/26 season it marketed 247,914 tonnes of cocoa, and 84.6% of its exports went to Europe, with 14.2% going to Asia, according to ONCC data reported by CNBC Africa. Cameroon cocoa is known for its rich colour, which makes it popular for powder and dark chocolate.
BV Cocoa Products is a Cameroonian-owned cocoa supplier and exporter, run by young entrepreneurs who work directly with farmers and farmer cooperatives. We export the full range, from beans to butter, powder, shells and husk, to buyers in Europe, the United States and markets worldwide. Learn how we process at origin on our cocoa processing page.
Build your wholesale cocoa order
Tell us which products you need and the volume. We quote the full range in one offer, shipped from Douala.
Request a quoteinfo@bvcocoaproducts.comFrequently Asked Questions
What is wholesale cocoa?
Wholesale cocoa is cocoa bought in bulk, by the tonne or container, from a cocoa manufacturer, exporter or distributor. It includes cocoa beans, nibs, liquor, butter, cake, powder, shells and pod husk.
What is the HS code for cocoa products?
Cocoa products are in HS chapter 18: cocoa beans and nibs 1801, cocoa shells and husks 1802, cocoa liquor (paste) 1803.10, cocoa cake 1803.20, cocoa butter 1804 and cocoa powder 1805.
What is the difference between a cocoa manufacturer and a cocoa supplier?
A cocoa manufacturer processes beans into liquor, butter, cake and powder. A cocoa supplier or exporter sells beans and cocoa products, often directly from the origin country. Some companies do both.
Should I buy from a cocoa distributor or a direct exporter?
Buy from a distributor for small lots and fast local delivery. Buy from a direct exporter for container volumes, lower unit costs and better traceability to farms and cooperatives.
How many cocoa beans make one tonne of cocoa butter?
Using ICCO conversion factors, one tonne of cocoa butter represents about 1.33 tonnes of cocoa beans. One tonne of cocoa liquor represents about 1.25 tonnes, and one tonne of cocoa powder or cake about 1.18 tonnes.