Cameroon’s Banana Exports Drop by 42.6% in October 2024 Amid Industry Challenges

The downward trend affected all key players in the sector, with the largest impact seen at Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP), the sector’s giant, and Poh Plantations (B PL).

PHP, a subsidiary of the Compagnie fruitière de Marseille, exported 9,894 tonnes of bananas in October, down from 18,193 tonnes in September, marking a significant drop of 8,299 tonnes (-45.6%). Similarly, B PL, another key player, saw a 50.1% reduction in its exports, which fell from 1,326 tonnes in September to 661 tonnes in October, a decrease of 665 tonnes.

Smaller Decline for Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC)

The decline in exports was less pronounced for the state-owned Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), which saw a drop of 1,032 tonnes (-33%), from 3,124 tonnes in September to 2,092 tonnes in October. Meanwhile, the Compagnie de développement de banane de Mondoni (CDBM) reported a decrease of 322 tonnes (-20.4%), from 1,573 tonnes in September to 1,251 tonnes in October.

Annual Decline Mirrors Monthly Trends

The annual comparison shows a similar trend, with a total decline of 6,518 tonnes (-31.9%) in October 2024 compared to the same month in 2023, when exports amounted to 20,416 tonnes. PHP and B PL recorded the steepest drops in export volumes. PHP’s exports fell from 16,252 tonnes in October 2023 to 9,894 tonnes in October 2024, a decrease of 6,358 tonnes (-39.1%). B PL also saw a drop, with exports falling from 883 tonnes in October 2023 to 661 tonnes in the same month of 2024, a decrease of 222 tonnes (-25.1%).

CDC’s exports also declined by 494 tonnes (-19.1%), dropping from 2,586 tonnes in October 2023 to 2,092 tonnes in October 2024. However, CDBM, a subsidiary of Compagnie fruitière de Marseille, was the only company to report an increase in exports, which rose from 695 tonnes in October 2023 to 1,251 tonnes in October 2024, marking an increase of 556 tonnes (+80%).

A Challenging Month for PHP

PHP's performance in October marked the lowest export volume recorded by the company, with 9,894 tonnes, the first time it has fallen below 10,000 tonnes since the start of the year. Prior to this, June 2024 had recorded the smallest export volume at 10,011 tonnes. Looking back to July 2023, PHP had exported only 8,714 tonnes, which was a significant underperformance at the time.

Founded in 1973, PHP operates 5,543 hectares of land in Cameroon’s Littoral Region, particularly in the Moungo department within the Manjo, Loum, and Njombé-Penja districts. In addition to banana production, the company also engages in cocoa and pepper farming.

Looking Ahead: Industry Challenges and Outlook

The banana sector in Cameroon faces numerous challenges, including fluctuating market demand and the ongoing impacts of environmental factors. As the industry adapts to these challenges, companies like PHP will need to find ways to stabilize production and exports to maintain their position in both regional and international markets. With ongoing efforts to expand production in other sectors, such as cocoa and pepper, companies are also diversifying their revenue streams in the hopes of mitigating losses in the banana export sector.