Cameroon to commission Chocolat Rouge plant by 2029 as cocoa processing, exports accelerate 

CAMEROON – Cameroon is preparing to commission operations at Chocolat Rouge, a locally branded chocolate production plant, in the second quarter of 2029, marking a new phase in the country’s cocoa value-addition strategy. 

Construction of the Chocolat Rouge facility began on May 31, 2024. The project represents a total investment of approximately €1.5 million (US$1.63 million), equivalent to nearly CFA1 billion (US$1.65 million).  

The plant occupies a 3,000-square-metre site and is designed to produce high-end chocolate bars made in Cameroon for international markets. 

The agro-industrial unit is expected to support the diversification of Cameroon’s cocoa derivatives on global markets, as the country strengthens its position as a regional cocoa processing hub. 

In 2024, increased activity by cocoa grinders operating in Cameroon enabled the country to enter the global top 10 exporters of cocoa derivatives.  

Data from the Competitiveness Committee of the Ministry of Economy show that Cameroon ranked seventh worldwide for cocoa paste exports, generating revenues of €275.6 million (US$299.5 million). 

Cocoa butter exports generated €206.3 million (around US$224.4 million), placing Cameroon ninth globally.  

This performance has been attributed to the entry of new processors, including Neo Industry, Atlantic Cocoa and Africa Processing, alongside expanded capacity at existing facilities, notably SIC Cacaos, a subsidiary of Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut group. 

As a result of these developments, local cocoa processing exceeded the symbolic threshold of 100,000 tonnes for the first time. According to the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), processing reached 109,431 tonnes during the 2024–2025 cocoa season. 

To further support the sector, the Cameroon Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Forests (Capef) is developing logistics infrastructure near the port of Douala.  

The project includes two warehouses with a combined area of 2,000 square metres, aimed at improving cocoa storage and export operations. The investment value has not been disclosed. 

Construction began in 2025, with the first 1,000-square-metre warehouse completed at the end of 2025 and becoming operational in early 2026. The second warehouse, also covering 1,000 square metres, is expected to be completed in July 2026. 

Once operational, the site will offer total storage capacity of about 11,000 tonnes, supported by a 4,500-square-metre outdoor logistics area.  

“This infrastructure will make it possible to handle close to 100,000 tonnes per season with rapid stock rotation,” a Capef source said, describing the project as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Cameroon’s agricultural logistics chain. 

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