Ghana’s trade in physical goods has expanded nearly nine-fold over the past two decades, reaching US$52.5bn in 2025, as gold strengthened its dominance of the country’s exports, official figures show.
The latest review by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), published on August 11 2026, shows the value of goods traded rose from US$6bn in 2024 to US$52.5bn last year.
According to the report, Ghana has also increasingly moved from trade deficits to surpluses, with the country recording a trade surplus of GH¢148.3bn in 2025, up from GH¢44.7bn in 2024.
The release also noted that, “Gold accounted for 63.1% of Ghana’s total exports in 2025, compared with 38.5% in 2024, making it by far the country’s largest export commodity”
“By contrast, the share of cocoa beans and cocoa products fell from 29.3% of exports in 2024 to 14% in 2025” it added
The GSS says the figures point to a significant change in the structure of Ghana’s trade and highlight the growing importance of gold to export earnings.
The report further identifies a major shift in Ghana’s trading partners, highlighting that, Asia accounted for 50.1% of Ghana’s exports and 48.4% of imports in 2025, making it the country’s largest trading region.
However, On the import side, mineral fuels and oils made up 25.7% of imports, while vehicles and automotive parts accounted for 15.4%.
The GSS says Ghana needs to build on the growth in trade by increasing the value of goods produced for export and reducing dependence on a narrow range of commodities.
The Ghana Statistical Service is calling for greater value addition, export diversification and stronger support for businesses seeking to enter international markets.
Meanwhile, the review covers Ghana’s trade performance between 2024 and 2025 and highlights the changing composition and direction of the country’s international goods trade.
