Africa Processing boosts grinding capacity with new factory in Cameroon
New Ngolambélé plant joins Mbankomo unit as Cameroon’s only processor making both butter and finished chocolate.
CAMEROON – Africa Processing Company has commissioned its second industrial cocoa-processing facility in Ngolambélé, Dimako district, East region of Cameroon, complementing its existing plant in Mbankomo, Center region.
The company positions itself as the sole processor in Cameroon capable of producing both semi-finished products, cocoa paste and cocoa butter, and finished consumer items such as chocolate bars.
Chief Executive Officer Lisette Claudia Tame Djame stated that the expansion aims to process raw cocoa closer to the source. She highlighted the East region’s annual production potential of around 12,000 tons and its strategic importance as a market and gateway to northern Cameroon.
Africa Processing entered the market during the 2022–2023 cocoa season. Its Mbankomo factory currently generates annual revenue of CFA500 million (US$888.97K) and processes 8,000 tons of cocoa derivatives yearly.
The new Ngolambélé site is expected to enhance both production volumes and financial performance. The facility becomes Cameroon’s fifth large-scale cocoa grinder, joining Sic Cacaos (Barry Callebaut), Chococam (Tiger Brands), Atlantic Cocoa (Kone Donsongui), and Neo Industry.
The addition supports the country’s drive to increase local transformation. For the first time, Cameroon’s grinding volume exceeded 100,000 tons in the 2024–2025 season. Growing processing capacity has intensified competition for beans, helping push farm-gate prices to a record CFA6,300 (US$11.20) per kilogramme during the 2023–2024 season, according to the National Cocoa and Coffee Board.
Authorities are also pursuing Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Cameroon’s distinctive red cocoa to authenticate origin, curb fraud, and secure premium pricing on international markets, delivering higher returns to farmers.
In the first quarter of 2025, raw cocoa exports generated CFA500.3 billion (US$889.5M), representing 44.8 percent of total export earnings and overtaking crude oil revenue.
The new factory in Ngolambélé reinforces efforts to retain more value within Cameroon while strengthening the country’s position in the global cocoa supply chain.
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