Cameroon’s Banana Exports Rise 19.9% Despite Dry-Season Pressures

Cameroon’s banana exports continued to expand during the first five months of 2026, supported by strong performances from the country’s leading producers despite the challenges of the dry season.

According to data from the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam), banana exports reached 106,447 tons between January and May 2026, up 21,088 tons from the 85,359 tons shipped during the same period a year earlier. The increase represents year-over-year growth of 19.9%.

French group Compagnie Fruitière, through its two Cameroonian subsidiaries, once again accounted for most of the increase in export volumes. Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP), the country’s largest banana producer, exported 76,093 tons during the first five months of 2026, compared with 61,227 tons a year earlier. The increase of 14,866 tons translates into growth of 19.5%.

Compagnie des Bananes de Mondoni (CDBM) recorded the strongest growth rate among the country’s producers. Its exports reached 12,326 tons at the end of May 2026, up from 7,409 tons during the same period in 2025. The gain of 4,917 tons represents annual growth of 39.9%.

Producers Hold Ground During the Dry Season

Exports from the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the state-owned producer and the only operator with majority domestic ownership, also increased during the period, although at a slower pace.

CDC exported 18,028 tons of bananas through May 2026, according to Assobacam. The figure represents an increase of 1,305 tons, or 7.2%, compared with the same period last year. The rise in banana exports came during the dry season, a period that often leads to lower production levels. This pattern was visible throughout May, when all of the country’s banana producers recorded their lowest monthly export volumes since the start of the year.

The fact that exports remained on an upward trajectory despite difficult weather conditions may reflect the effectiveness of irrigation systems deployed by producers to protect output.

Bananas remain one of Cameroon’s leading sources of foreign exchange earnings. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), banana exports generated CFA67.7 billion in revenue for the country in 2025, an increase of 84.7% compared with the previous year.

Brice R. Mbodiam