Buyer's guide
Common grades and specifications
- Cocoa beans: main crop / mid crop, bean count per 100 g, cut test (fermentation, mould, slaty beans), moisture
- Cocoa liquor / mass
- Cocoa butter (natural or deodorised)
- Cocoa powder: natural or alkalised, fat content (e.g. 10–12% or 20–22%), pH, colour
- Certifications such as Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance, and EU deforestation (EUDR) traceability where relevant
Typical packaging
Beans in jute or sisal bags, or bulk in container; butter in cartons; powder in multi-wall paper bags.
Typical minimum order
Commonly one container for beans; smaller lots are possible for powder and butter.
HS code (4-digit headings)
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 1801 | Cocoa beans |
| 1803 | Cocoa paste |
| 1804 | Cocoa butter, fat and oil |
| 1805 | Cocoa powder, unsweetened |
Guidance only. The exact 6- to 10-digit code depends on the product and the importing country's tariff. Confirm with your customs broker.
Incoterms tips
For containerised goods, FCA, CPT or CIP are usually a better fit than FOB/CIF, because the seller hands over at a terminal or warehouse rather than over the ship's rail. Use DAP or DDP only if the seller can really handle delivery (and, for DDP, import clearance) in your country.
Quality documents to request
- Phytosanitary certificate (beans)
- Certificate of origin
- COA
- Fumigation certificate
- Source statement for processing aids and emulsifiers in processed cocoa products
- Traceability / due-diligence data if importing into the EU
Sourcing notes
Cocoa is plant-based. For processed products, ask for a source statement covering processing aids and emulsifiers.
Price benchmark
| Benchmark | Price | m/m |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa | 5.75 $/kg | -2.9% |
Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), Updated on November 03, 2026. Nominal US dollars, CC BY 4.0. Benchmarks are reference prices at named origins/ports, not offers on OfferBulk.