CDC consolidates recovery with over 10,000 tons hike in banana output.

In its recent end of year report for 2025 made public, the Association of Banana Producers of Cameroon, ASSOBACAM, detailed that CDC exported 42,286 metric tons of banana during the 2025 production season, as against 31,643 metric tons produced in 2024, when recovery from the crisis actually started.

The trade association reports that overall export of bananas by Cameroon rose by 7% in 2025 alone thanks to improved output by major producers. 

Specifically, ASSOBACAM reports that Cameroon exported 225,345 metric tons of bananas in 2025, up from 210,686 metric tons shipped the previous year. This, according to data from the country’s banana industry association, this increase was driven primarily by three frontline producers. 

The first is the Compagnie des bananes de Mondoni, CDBM, considered to be the group’s second Cameroonian subsidiary of France’s Compagnie fruitière de Marseille. CDBM’s international sales jumped 69.5% in 2025 to 23,814 metric tons, from 14,052 metric tons a year earlier.

Adding that the other major contributor who recorded a significant increase was the Cameroon Development Corporation, an agro-industrial company wholly owned by the state. CDC’s banana exports rose 33.6% in 2025 to 42,286 metric tons, from 31,643 metric tons in 2024, the producer association stated.

By contrast, shipments from Plantations du Haut Penja, PHP edged lower in 2025. Data from ASSOBACAM show that PHP, the leading subsidiary of Compagnie fruitière in Cameroon and the domestic market leader, exported 151,713 metric tons in 2025, down from 153,258 metric tons in 2024, a decline of 1%.

With the association highlighting that Compagnie fruitière is obviously tightening its control in the sector. Under pinning that another underperformer was Boh Plantations Plc. 

The producer, now the smallest player in the sector following CDBM’s expansion, exported 7,532 metric tons of bananas in 2025, down 35.8% from 11,733 metric tons in 2024.

The decline is mainly explained by Boh Plantations ceasing exports from September 2025 after its assets were acquired by CDBM and PHP. The transaction strengthens the grip of Compagnie fruitière on the Cameroonian banana market, where it now reportedly accounts for more than 80% of production.

Mainly sold in the European Union, bananas rank among Cameroon’s top 10 non-oil exports. The country aims to raise output to 500,000 metric tons per year by 2030, according to targets outlined in the National Development Strategy document, 2020-2030.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3748 of Wednesday April 01, 2026