Cocoa Bean Purchases Plunge in Cameroon as Key Processor Scales Back

By Emmanuel Tumanjong

YAOUNDE, Cameroon--Cocoa bean purchases by Cameroon's two largest processors have fallen sharply during the 2014-15 marketing year, which has just one month left to run, with one of the companies holding back as it prepares for major factory expansion.

The two companies--Chocolaterie Confiserie du Cameroun, or Chococam, and Sic Cacao, the Cameroon affiliate of Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut AG (BARN.EB)--purchased 26,224 metric tons of cocoa beans in the period between August 2014 and June 2015. This represents a fall of 18.15% from the 32,042 tons purchased in the same period during the 2013-14 season.

The data, released by Cameroon's National Cocoa and Coffee Board, shows that Sic Cacao was responsible for the majority of the intake, purchasing 26,618 metric tons, while Chococam, part of South Africa's Tiger Brands(TBS.JO), purchased just 1,606 metric tons.

Sic Cacao's intake would have been even higher had it not diverted $8 million to fund the expansion of its processing capacity to 50,000 tons a year from the current 32,000. The new capacity is expected to be ready for the next harvest season, from August 2015 to July 2016.

"We were out of the farmgates markets because there was very little cocoa before the midcrop cocoa output period, but resumed purchase in June," said an official at Sic Cacao. He said the company is beginning to buy cocoa earlier this year, as it aims to increase its cocoa intake next season.

Write to Emmanuel Tumanjong at [e-mail]

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