Cameroon’s cocoa industry has suffered a sharp setback, with Cameroon cocoa production falling by 20% in the 2025/26 season as difficult weather conditions hit farms across the country. Data from the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) showed that marketed cocoa output dropped to 247,914 metric tons, down from 309,518 tons recorded in the previous season.
The decline marks Cameroon’s lowest marketed cocoa production in five years and reverses the strong recovery seen in 2024/25. Production had climbed from 266,710 tons to more than 309,000 tons during that period, exceeding the country’s annual target of 300,000 tons. Farmers are now facing renewed pressure as intense heat and unusually dry, strong Harmattan winds have affected cocoa trees and contributed to flower loss and disease-related damage.
The production slump was also reflected in Cameroon’s cocoa exports, which fell by 34.7% to 125,469 tons from 192,012 tons a year earlier. Europe remained the country’s biggest market, taking 84.6% of exports, while Asia accounted for 14.2%. Cocoa volumes supplied to domestic industrial and artisanal processors also declined, falling to 95,946 tons from 110,388 tons in the previous season.
The weaker output has had a major impact on the value of Cameroon’s cocoa trade. The free-on-board value of cocoa exports and processed cocoa shipments dropped by 58.9% to 580.4 billion CFA francs, compared with 1.4 trillion CFA francs in the previous season. Meanwhile, farmgate prices ranged from 700 CFA francs to 4,300 CFA francs per kilogram, compared with a much higher range of 3,210 CFA francs to 5,400 CFA francs the previous season.
Officials are already warning that the challenges could continue into the 2026/27 season. Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana said adverse weather could lead to another decline in cocoa supplies, while global demand may also weaken as chocolate manufacturers look for alternatives to cocoa butter amid high bean prices. For Cameroon’s farmers and cocoa businesses, the coming season could therefore be another crucial test for an industry facing pressure from both climate conditions and changing global demand.
source: cnbc
