Cashew nuts, palm oil and tuna now top 3 Non-Traditional Export commodities

Cashew nuts, Palm oil and Preserved or Prepared Tuna were the top three Non-Traditional Export commodities for the first quarter of this year.

According to data from the Bank of Ghana, the three together earned the nation $217.4 million.

The value of the top-10 non-traditional export commodities during the first quarter of this year amounted to $342.24 million.

This is compared with $292.36 million during the same period last year.

Cashew nuts ($128.70m) and palm oil ($48.07m) are gradually becoming very important export commodities for the country. This calls for deliberate policy by the government to boost the commodities.

Other important export commodities during the first three months of this year were tuna ($40.65m), rubber ($29.43m), Shea oil ($22.53m) aluminium ($19.93m) and avocado ($17.66m).

Overall, the value of merchandise exports for the first quarter of this year was a little above $3.9 billion. This was largely from gold, cocoa and oil exports.

Ghana bagged $2.89 billion from non-traditional exports in 2019

In 2019, the nation bagged $2.89 billion from non-traditional exports, 3.10% higher than 2018.

Manufacturing was the highest contributing sector, accounting for about 84.6% of the total non-traditional exports.

In terms of destination, non-traditional export products were exported to 155 countries.

Netherlands was however the leading country with imports of $381 million of non-traditional exports from Ghana.

Top 10 non-traditional exports commodities

Description Amount earned (US$) Distribution (%)
Cashew nuts 128.70 m 37.6
Palm oil and its fractions 48.07m 14.0
Preserved or prepared tuna 40.65m 11.9
Rubber 29.43m 8.6
Shea nut 22.53m 6.6
Aluminium 19.93m 5.8
Avocado, guavas, mangoes 17.66 5.2
Packing of goods 13.49m 3.9
Wheat 11.79m 3.4
Tableware, kitchenware, others 9.99m 2.9
Total 342.24m 100