In Cameroon, coffee prices reach the same level as cocoa prices for the first time in years

(Investing in Cameroon) - On February 18, 2026, the prices of cocoa and robusta coffee at the port of Douala reached the same level, according to the Sector Information System (SIF), a price alert system run by the National Cocoa and Coffee Office (ONCC). The FOB (Free on Board) prices for these two products ranged from 1,817 CFA francs to 1,760 CFA francs per kilogram.

The same alignment is observed in the average prices paid to producers: between 1,500 CFA francs and 1,600 CFA francs per kilogram in the production basins, according to ONCC figures. This is a level rarely seen in recent years, with cocoa generally outperforming Robusta coffee on the local market.

This convergence mainly reflects the poor performance of the cocoa sector since the start of the 2025-2026 season. After peaking at 6,000 CFA francs during the 2023-2024 cocoa season, then reaching a maximum of 5,400 CFA francs the following season, cocoa is currently trading at less than 2,000 CFA francs per kilogram in production areas.

This development contrasts with public projections: according to government forecasts, prices are expected to range between 3,200 CFA francs and 5,400 CFA francs this season.

The gap between actual and projected prices can be explained by the international situation. According to various commodity market analysts, global cocoa production is expected to be in surplus in the 2025-2026 season, continuing the trend that began in 2024-2025 after three seasons of deficits.

This upturn is expected to be driven by Ecuador, a Latin American country that could threaten Ghana and steal its status as the world's second-largest producer as early as this season. Analysts estimate that the expected surplus is likely to weigh on cocoa bean prices throughout the current season, both internationally and in producing countries, including Cameroon.