Cocoa Exports from Cameroon Surge by 10.4% in 2023

In a recent report by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) of Cameroon, the country's exports of cocoa beans and its derivatives reached 512 billion Central African CFA francs (approximately $850 million) in 2023, marking a 10.4% increase compared to the previous year.

According to the "Invest in Cameroon" website, the report revealed that Cameroon's cocoa bean exports declined by 55,000 tons to 180,000 tons in 2023, while the export value increased by 12.9% to 359 billion Central African CFA francs (around $600 million), accounting for 12% of the country's total exports.

The increase in export value was primarily driven by the decline in production in the two major cocoa-exporting countries, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, which led to a rise in international cocoa bean prices. In 2023, Cameroon exported 73,000 tons of cocoa derivatives, with cocoa paste accounting for 49,000 tons and cocoa butter for 24,000 tons. The export value of cocoa paste increased by 19% to 97.4 billion Central African CFA francs, while the value of cocoa butter declined by 3% to 55.5 billion Central African CFA francs, totaling 153 billion Central African CFA francs (approximately $260 million).

This positive trend in Cameroon's cocoa exports highlights the country's growing importance in the global cocoa market and its efforts to diversify its agricultural exports. As the international demand for high-quality cocoa continues to rise, Cameroon's cocoa producers and processors are well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity and further strengthen the country's position in the global cocoa supply chain.