Ghana food processing ingredients imports climbed to an estimated $1.27 billion in 2025, according to the 2026 Food Processing Ingredients Annual report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), highlighting the growing demand for processed and convenience foods in the country.
The report said imports increased by 2.5 percent compared to $1.24 billion recorded in 2024, reflecting the steady expansion of Ghana’s food processing industry and the inability of local production to fully meet consumer demand.
“Ghana’s food processing sector fuels imports; local production cannot keep pace with demand for convenience and ready-to-eat foods, as the sector is unable to meet local consumer demands.” - United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The report linked the growth to rising urbanisation, population growth, and changing consumer lifestyles, all of which are increasing appetite for packaged and processed food products.
Ghana remains a major commercial hub
The USDA described Ghana as a key lower-middle-income economy and an important gateway to the wider West African market.
It noted that Ghana recorded 5.8 percent GDP growth in 2024, rising to 6 percent in 2025, with growth projected to remain relatively strong through the medium term.
It added that Ghana continues to play a significant role in African trade, supported by its status as the continent’s leading gold producer and the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.
Retail and food service sectors expand
The report also pointed to evolving retail patterns in Ghana’s food economy. While modern supermarkets and hypermarkets continue to expand, small local grocers still dominate the market.
“Small local grocers, however, dominate 83 per cent of the market,” the USDA said, adding that modern food retailers account for just 17 percent of food sales.
It identified MELCOM, Shoprite, and Palace Stores as some of the country’s largest modern food retailers, while also noting the growing presence of Chinese-operated grocery outlets catering to price-sensitive consumers.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s food service industry recorded sales of $3.26 billion in 2025, with annual growth of 2 to 3 percent driven largely by hotel and restaurant expansion.
On the import side, the report said the European Union and China remained Ghana’s leading suppliers of consumer-oriented food products in 2025.
Although U.S. poultry imports hit a record $117 million, the USDA noted that American food exports still lag behind those of the EU and China in the Ghanaian market.
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