(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon is accelerating efforts to secure a protected Geographical Indication (GI) for its red cocoa (“cacao rouge”), a move aimed at increasing the value of its cocoa exports and bolstering non-oil revenue. The third ordinary session of the National Committee for the Promotion and Coordination of Geographical Indications (CONAPIG) was held in Yaounde under the leadership of Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe, to finalise the IG dossier for Cameroon’s red cocoa.
The GI application, to be submitted to the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI), is being backed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), whose representative attended the session. The label is expected to authenticate the origin of red cocoa, deter fraud, and command premium prices on the international market with direct financial benefits for growers. According to Ali Oumar, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development and Vice-President of CONAPIG, the IG status should yield a “plus-value” per kilo for producers.
Economically, cocoa is increasingly dominant in Cameroon’s export profile. In the first quarter of 2025, raw cocoa exports generated FCFA 500.3 billion, representing 44.8% of total export earnings, surpassing even crude oil, as reported by Business in Cameroon. Year-on-year export value surged in 2024, with raw bean revenues jumping from FCFA 359 billion in 2023 to FCFA 683 billion in 2024, a 90 percent increase driven by high global prices rather than volume.
Broader non-oil exports underscore the cocoa sector’s weight in the national economy: in 2024, non-oil exports rose by 33.1% to FCFA 1,827.8 billion, a boost largely fuelled by cocoa. Meanwhile, cocoa production itself is on the rise. For the 2024-2025 season, output is expected to reach more than 280,000 tonnes, according to Fitch Solutions, a 6.7% increase over the previous season.
At the farm level, producers are reaping rewards: during 2024-2025, cocoa farmer revenues are estimated at FCFA 1,200 billion, with producer prices ranging between FCFA 3,210 and FCFA 5,400 per kilogramme. This gains momentum at a moment when Cameroon’s agro-food export price index has leapt by 6.9% in 2024, mainly due to cocoa, coffee, and rubber, according to Food Business Middle East.
Labelled red cocoa could sharpen Cameroon’s competitive edge in this high-value chain. Experts note that its characteristic brick-red beans, strong grain, and consistent size make it particularly attractive to premium chocolatiers.
Minister Mbairobe has called for a rigorous diagnostic by the Association for the Geographical Indication of Cameroon Red Cocoa to finalise the file and proceed confidently to the next stage. If successful, the red cocoa GI would join other globally recognised Cameroonian products such as Penja white pepper and Oku honey. According to reports, the GI could be granted as early as 2026.
Mercy Fosoh
