Cocoa Shells & Husk

Bean shells & husk — mulch, feed, fibre & theobromine extraction

Cocoa shells are the thin outer skin of the bean, cracked off and blown away when grinders winnow beans into nibs. Every grinder produces them, so they are available wherever cocoa is processed, and they are traded under HS 1802 (cocoa shells, husks, skins and other cocoa waste). Origin trade is dominated by one country: UN Comtrade shows USD 745 million of HS 1802 exports in 2024, with Côte d'Ivoire at 95.4% of the value. Shells are fibrous, low in fat and carry theobromine and some caffeine; during fermentation methylxanthines migrate from the bean into the shell. A 2018 scientific review of cocoa shell uses reported theobromine in cocoa shell at roughly 6.6 to 12.9 mg/g depending on the extraction method, and dietary fibre at about 40 to 57% of dry matter. That composition sets the uses: garden mulch that suppresses weeds and adds organic matter; fuel and biochar; animal feed in limited proportions; dietary fibre and cocoa-flavoured flour for food; and a raw material for extracting theobromine and polyphenols.

Buy shells by use, because the specification is different for each. For mulch, the concerns are particle size, dust, mould and consistency; note that shell mulch contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. For feed, theobromine is the limiting factor: in the EU, Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed, as amended, sets maximum theobromine levels of 300 mg/kg in complete feed at 12% moisture, 200 mg/kg for pigs, and 50 mg/kg for dogs, rabbits, horses and fur animals, so shells can only be a small share of a ration and need a theobromine analysis. For extraction and food use, ask for heavy metals, pesticide residues, mycotoxins and microbiology, because shells carry the outer-surface contamination of the bean; the EU sets PAH maximum levels for cocoa fibre products (benzo(a)pyrene 3.0 µg/kg) under Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Shells move in bulk bags or pressed bales against a certificate of analysis, phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin. Cocoa shells under HS 1802 are in scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation from 30 December 2026 for large and medium operators and traders and from 30 June 2027 for micro and small operators, with the same geolocation and due diligence statement as the beans they came from. There is no exchange reference for shells; the ICE cocoa futures drive grinding volumes rather than shell prices, so shells are quoted per lot on use and analysis. CBIL brokers cocoa shells against use, theobromine content, moisture, particle size and contaminant analysis, on FOB, CFR and CIF terms.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.