Cameroon is stepping up measures to curb illegal cocoa exports to Nigeria, a practice that cost the country an estimated CFA41.4 billion (US$67 million) in 2024, officials said.
The National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) has intensified monitoring and enforcement efforts to protect export revenues and improve oversight of the sector, which is a key source of foreign exchange for the Central African country.
On Jan. 13, ONCC Director General Michael Ndoping convened a high-level consultative meeting in Douala under the guidance of Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. The discussions brought together public and private stakeholders, including exporters, customs officials, and administrative authorities.
According to the ONCC, the meeting focused on three main priorities: strengthening coordination among agencies, addressing operational challenges in cross-border trade, and improving cocoa flows between Cameroon and Nigeria. The consultations form part of the implementation of new regulatory frameworks aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area, aimed at securing and formalising cross-border transactions.
Illegal cocoa exports have been a persistent problem, particularly from Cameroon’s Southwest region, where cocoa is heavily produced. Data from Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics show that informal shipments to Nigeria reached CFA41.4 billion in 2024. The issue first drew national attention in the 2022–2023 season, when losses from fraudulent exports were estimated at CFA70 billion.
To stem the outflow, the government in 2022 imposed a temporary ban on cocoa bean exports to Nigeria and introduced a new marketing system with stricter controls over land, sea, and air shipments. The aim was to reduce undeclared exports and restore traceability across the value chain.
The measures have produced mixed results. While illicit exports persist, a portion of the cocoa trade has been formalised. ONCC reported that Nigeria became the largest African importer of Cameroonian cocoa in the 2024–2025 season, purchasing 2,100 tonnes. This formalisation has shifted part of the trade into legitimate channels but has not entirely eliminated fraud risks in border areas.
In response, Cameroon is accelerating the rollout of the National Unified Cocoa Traceability System, a digital tool designed to track cocoa from farm to export. Officials say the system will meet international standards, including the European Union’s deforestation regulation, while securing legally exported volumes to neighbouring countries.
“Traceability is key to protecting the integrity of our cocoa sector and ensuring that Cameroonian producers and exporters receive fair compensation for their products,” Ndoping said during the meeting.
The government’s focus on compliance comes amid rising global scrutiny of cocoa supply chains, with importers increasingly demanding proof that exports do not contribute to deforestation or illicit trade. Analysts say the new measures are crucial for Cameroon’s ambition to strengthen its position as a reliable supplier of cocoa to international markets.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Enforcement along porous borders, where informal networks operate, continues to be difficult. The ONCC and customs authorities have pledged to maintain tighter coordination and to deploy technological tools to monitor trade flows, while engaging with Nigerian counterparts to reduce smuggling.
The cocoa sector is a major pillar of Cameroon’s economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of farmers and contributing significantly to export earnings. Authorities say protecting this revenue stream is critical to maintaining rural livelihoods, stabilising the domestic market, and meeting international sustainability requirements.
“The fight against illegal exports is not just a regulatory issue; it is central to the economic well-being of our cocoa producers and the credibility of Cameroon as a cocoa exporter,” Trade Minister Mbarga Atangana said in a statement.
