Report ranks Cameroon world’s third largest kola nuts producer.

The statistics indicated that Cameroon's kola nut production has loitered around 48,500 tonnes annually over the past five years, accounting for 15.4% of global output, placing it the world's third-largest producer.

Revealing that Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire are the top two international suppliers of the product, Tridge data indicated that Nigeria, the West African giant, produced 174,100 tonnes in 2022, representing 55.2% of global production, and Côte d’Ivoire's output in 2022 reached 58,640 tonnes, representing 18.6% of the world’s total.

Tridge also added that the top five producers were championed by African countries with Ghana ranking fourth, with a 7.8% market share and 24,643 tonnes produced in 2022, followed by Sierra Leone, with 8,450 tonnes accounting for 2.7% of the global kola nut market.

According to a study published in April 2025 by Cognitive Market Research, it was estimated that kola nut market will be worth approximately 65 billion FCFA in 2025, projecting the market to grow by an average of 3.3% annually right up to 2033.

The study also added that the leaders in kola nut production will see increased returns from kola nut cultivation in the coming years due to rising demand. 

It further revealed that the anticipated surge in the global kola nut market is fuelled by the diversification of its uses, which is traditionally consumed in its raw form across many African countries.

The platform also noted a growing demand for kola nut in the agri-food industry, cosmetics, and in the making traditional medicine.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3478 of Thursday June 19, 2025