Cameroon banana exports surge 20% in early 2026 as irrigation defies dry season
This resilience suggests that advanced irrigation strategies successfully mitigated climate-related risks.
CAMEROON – Cameroon’s banana exports rose by nearly 20 per cent during the first five months of 2026, driven by strong performance from French-owned subsidiaries and the state-owned CDC, with advanced irrigation systems mitigating dry-season challenges.
According to statistics from the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam), international sales reached 106,447 tonnes, an increase of 21,088 tonnes (19.9%) from 85,359 tonnes exported at the end of May 2025.
To begin with, the French group Compagnie Fruitière de Marseille, through its two subsidiaries, drove this improvement. Plantations du Haut-Penja (PHP), the leading banana producer, recorded a 19.5% increase in sales, rising from 61,227 tons to 76,093 tons.
On the other hand, Compagnie des Bananes de Mondoni (CDBM) recorded the strongest sales growth at 39.9 per cent, reaching 12,326 tons, up from 7,409 tons in the prior year.
Exports from the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the state-owned company, also increased but less strongly, reaching 18,028 tonnes at the end of May 2026. This represents a year-on-year increase of 1,305 tonnes, corresponding to a 7.2% rise.
While private subsidiaries demonstrated substantially higher growth rates, CDC maintained a moderate expansion, contributing to total output exceeding 100,000 tonnes by May.
Banana sales increased during the dry season, a period typically marked by a decline in production. Throughout May 2026, all producers recorded their lowest export volumes since the start of the year.
However, the continued rise in international sales, despite harsh climate conditions, may reflect the effectiveness of irrigation systems implemented by producers. This resilience suggests that advanced irrigation strategies successfully mitigated climate-related risks.
In Cameroon, bananas rank among the main sources of foreign exchange earnings. In 2025, international sales generated CFA67.7 billion (US$116.8 million) in revenue, representing an 84.7% year-on-year increase, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics. This massive financial gain underscores the sector’s vital role in the national economy.
The upward trend over the first five months of 2026 builds on previous gains and shows how improved production techniques and major private stakeholders are stabilizing Cameroon’s position in the global fruit market.
Clearly, the industry’s resilience amid challenging seasonal conditions highlights the value of continued investment in irrigation infrastructure and production technology.
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