(Business in Cameroon) – Africa Global Logistics (AGL), a subsidiary of the Italy-Swiss-based MSC Group, is renovating a warehouse owned by Cameroon’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Handicrafts (CCIMA) in Douala’s Port Zone 3. The project aims to expand the warehouse’s capacity for storing cocoa beans intended for export.
“After securing a lease from CCIMA, AGL decided to renovate this warehouse to meet the standards required for handling cocoa on behalf of one of our clients. The upgrades include equipment to maintain optimal humidity levels, ensuring the cocoa is in perfect condition for export,” explained Rochelin Efongfo, Head of Commodities Warehousing at AGL Cameroon. He also noted that the renovation includes raising the warehouse’s foundation to protect stored goods from frequent flooding in the area.
The renovations, which began in November 2024 and are expected to last six months, will cost CFA240 million. Over CFA170 million is allocated to refurbishing the 9,600-square-meter roof, while the remaining funds will be used to upgrade the electrical system, improve the site layout, and level the floor to accommodate container storage.
When completed, the 6,000-square-meter warehouse will have a storage capacity of 4,000 tons. “With an average transit period of two weeks, the warehouse can handle up to 96,000 tons during a cocoa season,” Efongfo said. This accounts for 51.8% of the 185,613 tons exported from Cameroon during the 2023-2024 season, as reported by the National Cocoa and Coffee Office (ONCC). Cameroon’s national cocoa production during that period reached 266,725 tons, an increase of 1.17%.
The renovated facility will not only ensure the integrity of the cocoa stock but also enable AGL Cameroon to increase its storage and transit capacity to handle up to 144,000 tons per season. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Cameroon exported 185,613 tons of cocoa in 2023, generating over CFA359 billion in revenue. This marked a 12.9% increase in export earnings compared to the previous year and represented 12% of the country’s total export revenue for 2023.
