Since the yellow vests movement started in France, the commercial cooperation between pineapple exporters and their partners in France has not been good. Indeed, the French partners have a hard time reselling their products, so the producers are experiencing huge losses.
According to Jean-Pierre Tchatou, owner of the Exotropique company, largest Cameroonian pineapple exporter in France, “10 millions have been lost in just a week, and it has been like this since the beginning of the yellow vests movement.”
Because of the road blocks, many shopping centers are closed and cannot receive our fruits. “The merchandise we sent stayed in the warehouses or trucks in France. We are facing huge losses. The orders are so small that we cannot export anymore,” says Nestor Soh, general director of Tropical Fruit. He mentions the huge amount of losses despite the transfer of products to the local market. “The fruit and vegetable market is quite peculiar. We have our own way of working. We sell in commission, the exporter is the one who suffers the losses. The clients in France do not pay anything, they even charge for the aircraft fees and some of their own expenses. It is very difficult for us.”
Source: agencecamerounpresse.com