Cameroon Cocoa Production Falls 20 Percent As Extreme Weather Hits Harvests And Exports

Cameroon's marketed cocoa production fell by 20 percent during the 2025/26 season, declining to 247,914 tonnes as extreme heat and unusually strong Harmattan winds damaged cocoa crops. Exports dropped by 34.7 percent, while export earnings fell nearly 59 percent. Officials have warned that continued adverse weather across West Africa could further reduce production during the 2026/27 season.

Cameroon's marketed cocoa production declined by 20 percent during the 2025/26 season, reversing the strong growth recorded a year earlier as adverse weather conditions reduced harvests across one of Africa's leading cocoa-producing countries.
Figures released by the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) showed that marketed cocoa output dropped to 247,914 metric tonnes, compared with 309,518 tonnes recorded during the 2024/25 season.
The decline also marks the country's lowest marketed cocoa production in five years.

EXTREME WEATHER REDUCED HARVESTS

According to industry officials, prolonged heatwaves and unusually strong, dry Harmattan winds disrupted cocoa production across West Africa during the season.
The harsh weather weakened cocoa trees, causing flowers and immature pods to fall prematurely while increasing crop stress and reducing yields.
Cameroon, the world's fifth-largest cocoa producer, was among several West African countries affected by the difficult growing conditions.
The cocoa season ran from 1 August 2025 to 15 July 2026.

EXPORTS ALSO DECLINED

Lower production translated into weaker export performance.
Cameroon's cocoa exports fell by 34.7 percent, dropping from 192,012 tonnes in the previous season to 125,469 tonnes.
Europe remained the country's largest export destination, accounting for 84.6 percent of total shipments.
Asian markets received 14.2 percent, while African countries accounted for 1.1 percent of exports.
Domestic cocoa processing also slowed, with deliveries to industrial and artisanal processors declining to 95,946 tonnes, compared with 110,388 tonnes a year earlier.

COCOA STOCKS INCREASE

Despite weaker production, cocoa stocks rose sharply.
ONCC data showed that carry-over stocks increased to 40,447 tonnes, compared with 13,947 tonnes at the end of the previous season.
Total cocoa available during the season, including existing stocks, stood at 261,862 tonnes.
Farmgate prices fluctuated widely between 700 CFA francs and 4,300 CFA francs per kilogram, compared with 3,210 CFA francs to 5,400 CFA francs during the previous season.

EXPORT EARNINGS PLUNGE

The reduction in export volumes significantly affected earnings.
The total free-on-board (FOB) value of cocoa bean and processed cocoa exports declined by 58.9 percent, falling to 580.4 billion CFA francs from approximately 1.4 trillion CFA francs during the previous season.
The decline reflects both lower export volumes and changing international market conditions during the season.

REGIONAL COCOA CHALLENGES CONTINUE

The latest figures mirror broader challenges facing cocoa production across West Africa, the region that supplies more than two-thirds of the world's cocoa.
Neighbouring producers, including Ivory Coast and Ghana, have also experienced production difficulties in recent seasons because of climate change, ageing cocoa plantations, crop diseases and irregular rainfall.
These supply disruptions have contributed to significant volatility in global cocoa prices over the past two years, affecting both chocolate manufacturers and consumers worldwide.
SUPPLY RISKS REMAIN
Cameroon's Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, warned that cocoa production could decline further during the 2026/27 season if adverse weather conditions persist across the region.
Industry observers say improving farm productivity, renewing ageing cocoa trees and strengthening climate resilience will be essential to sustaining Cameroon’s cocoa sector in the coming years.