(Business in Cameroon) - During the first half of December 2017, Cameroon’s exporters have conveyed barely 115, 000 tons of cocoa beans to Douala port, Reuters reported.
This is down 20% compared to the previous year when 145, 000 of tons of the beans were sent to the port for export.
According to farmers and exporters, the decrease can be attributed to the late onset of the rains.
However, this can also be due to exporters’ limited interest in the crop, which also results from the little interest international buyers now have for Cameroon’s cocoa which is known for being of an approximate quality.
Indeed, on December 12, 2017, it was revealed that on the London spot, cocoa processors and chocolate makers were not in a rush to sign December’s purchase contracts. At the time, experts disclosed that chocolate makers’ reluctance was due to their fear of receiving beans of approximate quality, mainly from Cameroon.
Brice R. Mbodiam