Cameroon Cocoa Intelligence: Prices, Port, Security

On March 22, Cameroonian forces neutralized three Boko Haram fighters in the Far North per, following a March 18 attack on the Dabanga brigade. Regionally, the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria confirmed on March 22 that a ransom was paid to free abducted cocoa farmers per, highlighting elevated kidnap-for-ransom risks across West African cocoa zones. On March 19, ONCC reported cocoa FOB prices at 1,747 FCFA/kg per, representing a massive drop that has crashed farmgate prices to 800-1,200 FCFA/kg per. Meanwhile, the government suspended fuel imports for seven major marketers over payment disputes on March 19 per, threatening transport logistics. To bolster long-term infrastructure, the Douala Port Authority signed a 40 billion FCFA rail concession on March 19 per. The convergence of crashing farmgate prices and suspended fuel imports creates severe operational friction for the cocoa supply chain. With sustained humidity above 88% in the Southwest triggering critical Black Pod disease risks, exporters face rising mechanical drying costs while simultaneously navigating potential fuel shortages for transport. Although the Douala port rail upgrade offers long-term relief, immediate supply chain bottlenecks remain highly vulnerable to these compounding pressures.

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