Cameroon exported 68,874 tons of bananas in the first four months of 2024, data from the Cameroon Banana Association shows. French agro-industrial group Compagnie Fruitière led the exports with its two subsidiaries: Plantations du HautPenja (PHP) and the newcomer Compagnie des Bananes de Mondoni (CDBM) launched in June 2023.
According to Assobacam figures, these two companies alone exported 54,912 tons of bananas from January to April 2024, comprising 79.7% of total banana exports. PHP exported 51,395 tons, claiming 74.6% market share, while CDBM exported 3,517 tons, holding 5.1% market share.
Beyond exports, Compagnie Fruitière’s influence in Cameroon extends to technical assistance provided to other local producers like the state-owned CDC and private company Boh Plantations Plc (BPL). The multinational oversees production monitoring and export logistics for these partners.
During the same period, Compagnie Fruitière handled 10,255 tons for CDC and 3,707 tons for BPL. Despite launching just in June 2023, CDBM rivalled BPL’s export volume by April 2024, securing the third spot in the market.
Bananas have long been among Cameroon’s top 10 export commodities. In 2023, they, alongside plantain, generated export revenues of CFA31.4 billion, marking a 1.6% annual increase, as reported by the National Institute of Statistics in May 2024.