In September 2024, Cameroon experienced an uptick in banana exports, according to the Banana Association of Cameroon (Assobacam). The country shipped 24,216 tons, marking a 19.5% increase from the previous year and a 4.5% rise from August. This growth is attributed to the collective efforts of the nation's four banana producers.
Leading the market, the French conglomerate Compagnie fruitière de Marseille, through its subsidiaries Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP) and the Compagnie des bananes de Mondoni (CDBM), exported a combined total of 19,766 tons, accounting for 81.6% of the overall exports. PHP alone contributed 18,193 tons, reflecting a 14.5% year-over-year increase. CDBM, the latest addition to Compagnie fruitière's operations in Cameroon, reported a significant growth of 194%, with exports reaching 1,573 tons.
The state-owned CDC, a major employer in the country, also saw a rise in its exports, totaling 3,124 tons, an increase of 17% from the previous year. Boh Plantations Plc, now ranking fourth after CDBM, exported 1,326 tons, up 12.5% from the year before.
Bananas stand as a crucial export commodity for Cameroon, generating substantial revenue from sales to G7 nations. In 2023, the export value to these countries amounted to CFA42.9 billion, as per the National Institute of Statistics. With an ambitious target set within the National Development Strategy (SND 20-30), Cameroon aims to elevate its annual banana production to 500,000 tons by 2030 from the current levels of 210,000 to 240,000 tons.
Source: Business in Cameroon