(Business in Cameroon) – During the 2023-2024 cocoa season, which officially ended on July 15, 2024, the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) reported 39 active exporters in Cameroon. However, three major traders accounted for 70% of the country’s cocoa bean exports.
Telcar Cocoa led the market, handling 35.1% of Cameroon’s cocoa exports this season. The local trader, part of the American firm Cargill, has however seen stagnant performance over the past three campaigns. Despite acquiring 100% of the assets from Ets Ndongo Essomba, a key cocoa trader in the Central region, Telcar Cocoa’s market share decreased from 36.09% in the 2021-2022 season to 35.1% in the 2023-2024 season.
The ongoing socio-political crisis in the South-West region, a traditional stronghold for Telcar Cocoa, may be affecting its performance. This crisis, which began in late 2016, has disrupted business activities and caused the region to lose its status as Cameroon’s top cocoa-producing area.
The second-largest exporter of cocoa beans over the period was Ofi Cam, capturing 24.9% of the market. This represents a notable increase from the previous season, where Ofi Cam held 23% of the export market.
Completing the top three exporters is Sbet, which accounted for 9.88% of the country’s cocoa exports during the season. This performance is stable compared to 9.9% in the 2021-2022 season but down from 11.4% in the 2022-2023 season.
