Cocoa butter exports from January to August 2025 earned Peru approximately US$106.8 million adrift global premium trade, per an Agrodata report.

According to Agraria, Lima shipped over 5,786.5 tonnes of the product worth a free-on-board (FOB) value above US$106 million.

This export value surpasses that for the entire financial year 2023 that had garnered $71.1 million, per the World Bank. 

The discrepancy mirrors unrelenting cocoa price volatility, with unit profitability beginning 2024 at least thrice that of 2023.  

For the January-August 2025 sales, demand in the traditional lucrative markets of the United States and Europe contributed gains. 

The U.S. bought $54.187 million worth of cocoa butter from Peru, ahead of Germany ($18.075 million) and the Netherlands ($11.886 million).

Neighboring Chile emerged fourth at $8.131 million while Argentina and Brazil followed with $7.712 and $3.556 million, respectively.

Unlike many cocoa export hubs, Peru processes a bulk of its cacao products which it then exports at premium especially to Europe.  

28% of cacao product exports from the country represent cocoa butter, 8.9% chocolate bars and 5.3% either powder or nibs.

These products come from major chocolate makers that contract seasonal supplies from smallholders whom they pay decent wages.

Among these is Machu Picchu Foods SAC whose January-August 2025 cocoa butter shipments hit $53.355 million, roughly half the national returns.

Following suit were Compañia de Chocolates de Perú SA at $23.031 million, just before Kulkao SA at $4.17 million. 

So, another milestone has defined the Peru cocoa butter industry, which has been growing since hitting a significant low in 1991. The below statistics explore more of these gains from a general production and export point of view.

Peru Cocoa Butter Statistics 

Although Peru is best known for fine cocoa or organic cocoa, it is no underdog in cocoa butter conversion. According to the Initiative of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, cocoa production averages 122,000 tonnes annually of which 28% makes cocoa butter. 

How big are Lima’s cocoa butter exports?

While all cocoa exports from Peru average US$266 million, those from cocoa butter alone bring at least US$71.061 million (2023).

Which country buys most of Peru’s cocoa butter?

In 2023, the United States topped cocoa butter purchases from Peru by scooping  3,606.09 tonnes, worth US$18.320 million or 1/4 the total sales. By the first eight months of 2025, the U.S. was purchasing 1/2 of the total value at US$54.2 million.