Cameroon banana exports rise 1.5% as smaller producers offset PHP drought decline
The drought in Moungo did not spread to the Southwest Region, allowing CDC and CDBM to increase shipments.
CAMEROON – Cameroon’s banana exports have risen 1.5% in May 2026 as smaller producers CDC and CDBM offset a 7.9% drought-related decline from the country’s largest grower, PHP.
Export growth was supported by higher shipments from the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) and the Compagnie des Bananes de Mondoni (CDBM), which offset lower volumes from Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP).
First, CDC exported 3,508 tons in May 2026, up 16.4% from 3,014 tons in May 2025. On the other hand, CDBM exported 1,975 tons, a 34.8% increase from 1,465 tons a year earlier
In addition, PHP exported 9,207 tonnes during the month, compared with 9,998 tonnes a year earlier, a decline of 7.9%. This was PHP’s lowest monthly export volume since the start of 2026.
According to industry sources, part of the decline was attributed to drought conditions affecting some of PHP’s plantations, particularly in the Moungo Division of the Littoral Region
For instance, PHP started the year with exports of 20,037 tons in January. Volumes then declined to 17,312 tons in February, increased slightly to 17,850 tons in March, before falling to 11,687 tons in April and 9,207 tons in May.
PHP operates banana plantations in the Moungo area and in the Southwest Region, where CDC and CDBM are also active. The drought conditions in Moungo did not appear to impact Southwest Region producers to the same extent.
The sector remains a vital economic pillar for Cameroon. According to the National Institute of Statistics, banana exports generated CFA67.7 billion (US$116.8 million) in 2025, an 84.7% increase on the previous year.
The drought in Moungo did not spread to the Southwest Region, allowing CDC and CDBM to increase shipments. This geographic buffer protected the national export total from a larger decline.
PHP’s decline from 20,037 tons in January to 9,207 tons in May signals a warning about climate risk concentration. Producers operating within a single climate zone face greater weather-related volatility than those with dispersed plantations.
Lastly, the 84.7% revenue increase in 2025 shows that value growth can outpace volume growth. Cameroon’s banana sector is not only shipping more fruit but also securing higher prices and accessing premium markets.
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