Cameroon cocoa farmgate prices reportedly among the highest in West Africa
Cocoa prices in Ghana, pictured, are now presently being reportedly outpaced in neighbouring Cameroon.
Cameroon has stepped-up the pace for cocoa pricing in West Africa, emerging as the nation, reportedly delivers among the highest farmgate pay for the key confectionery ingredient, writes Neill Barston.
As per a Cocoaradar report, the major crop is now changing hands in the country’s local currency at an average of 5,000 CFA, equating to values that range between $5,680-$9,580 per tonne.
This development comes as neighbouring countries including Ghana have also raised farmer pay, by a total of 62% to 51,600 Ghaniana currency (around $5,000 a tonne), though local exchange rates there have meant that the country’s weaker Cedi exchange rate against the dollar has meant farmers actual pay is less in their favour.
According to Cocoaradar, Ivory Coast, which has been the largest exporter in the region, has delayed its pricing announcements for the upcoming season, amid continued market volatility.
However, as previously reported, cocoa prices around the world appear to be reducing, falling from a peak of $12,000 a tonne on New York and London Futures markets at the start of January, to around $7,500 in the past month – this is still well over double the prices being commanded just two years ago within the sector.
ICCO results
Significantly, results from the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), there has been a mixed global picture amid lower grindings results. Notably, its latest monthly update has shown that The first half of July 2025 was characterised by a notable downward trend in cocoa futures prices.
This decline was largely driven by reports of improved crop for the 2025/26 season and expectations of weakening demand.
From mid-July onward, cocoa prices reversed course and began climbing, spurred by reports of unsettled weather in Ivory Coast, with weather cited as the core variable for the upcoming main crop.
According to its latest report, cocoa production has been rising across most major producing countries, particularly in Latin America. Several seasons of elevated cocoa prices have spurred renewed interest in cultivation, leading to increased output.
Some market participants are of the view that this
surge in Latin America’s production is expected to ease the global supply tightness that has persisted in recent years. The expectation of a better harvest likely contributed to the slowdown in prices observed in early July.
In addition, as the report noted, bearish sentiments around demand also exerted downward pressure on prices. Persistently high cocoa prices may have dampened consumption, as reflected in lower Q2.25 grindings reported by all major regional cocoa associations.
Moreover, as the ICCO observers, the European Cocoa Association (ECA) published a decline of 7.20% in grindings from 357,502 tonnes to 331,762 tonnes whereas that of National Confectioners’ Association (NCA) declared a fall of 2.78% from 104,781 tonnes to 101,865 tonnes.
That of Cocoa Association of Asia (CAA) dropped significantly by 16.28% from almost 211,000 tonnes to 176,644 tonnes, which was another notable consideration for the industry.
