Local Cocoa Processing: Cameroon’s Golden Ticket to Global Wealth

Accueil / E Business / L'esprit de loi / Local Cocoa Processing: Cameroon’s Golden Ticket to Global Wealth

Local Cocoa Processing: Cameroon’s Golden Ticket to Global Wealth

Global cocoa derivatives markets near FCFA 90,000 billion but Cameroon captures little value. Investing more in local transformation is a vital strategy for its economic independence.

22 Jul 2026 15:06

F or decades, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, have supplied the bulk of the world’s raw cocoa, yet, data jointly tracked by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, reveal that, these cocoa-producing countries secure less than 10% of the financial wealth value generated by the global cocoa derivatives industry with chocolate topping the chart. According to official export reports from the Cameroon National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), during the 2024/2025 co coa season, the country generated a total monetary export value of FCFA 1,410 billion from raw bean sales alone. While this reflects strong global demand, the bulk of the final consumer value which resides in se condary manufacturing and retail is mostly retained in European and North American factories. To bridge this financial gap, Cameroonian au thorities and local sector actors are prioritizing domestic processing. In its latest economic revenue report, the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development reported that local cocoa grindings reached about 109,400 tons in 2025. This mi lestone is set against a total national commercialized production of 309,518 tons recorded by the ONCC during the 2024/2025 season. This implies that Cameroon now processes roughly 35% of its own yield. This industrial push is anchored by major invest ments such as the FCFA 54 billion public-private partnership behind the Neo Industry processing plant in Kekem, (West region) designed to convert raw beans directly into cocoa butter, cake, powder, and li quor. Following origi...