Illicit cocoa exports in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) represent a considerable loss for the country’s economy. The associations of cocoa and coffee exporters of the DRC (ASSECAF) recently revealed that the country loses around 60 million US dollars each year due to these fraudulent practices.
This situation is of great concern to entrepreneurs in the sector, who denounce the harmful consequences of these uncontrolled exports. They point out that cocoa is one of the DRC’s main cash crops, providing livelihoods for thousands of families. Unfortunately, despite government policies to promote fair trade and sustainable development, illicit cocoa exports persist, and this is hurting the country’s economy.
Illicit cocoa exports occur mainly via cross-border smuggling to some neighboring countries of the DRC. This illegal activity has a significant impact on the country’s tax revenue, depriving producers and the government of essential revenue.
According to exporter statistics, more than half of the Congolese cocoa produced in the province of North Kivu disappears due to these fraudulent practices. This translates into a loss of approximately 400 tons of cocoa per week, or an annual monetary value of US$60 million, given the current price of a ton of cocoa on the international market.
DRC cocoa and coffee exporters stress that this situation is all the more worrying as the country has real production potential, with around 60,000 tonnes currently produced, but with the possibility of reaching up to 300,000 tonnes per year if exports are properly controlled.
Faced with this problem, exporters are calling on the Congolese government to take strong measures to put an end to these illegal practices. In particular, they call for a strengthening of border controls, the fight against corruption and fraud, as well as greater transparency in the cocoa marketing system.
Taking such measures would be essential to protect the country’s economy and allow cocoa exporters to work under fair conditions. By eliminating illicit exports, the DRC could not only preserve its income, but also strengthen its position on the international market as a producer of quality cocoa.
It is therefore essential that the Congolese government react quickly and take concrete measures to combat these illicit exports and support cocoa exporters in their work. By doing so, the DRC could truly exploit the full potential of its cocoa industry and contribute to the economic and social development of the country