CAMEROON- Telcar Cocoa, a prominent player in the cocoa market and local dealer for American giant Cargill, has experienced a sluggish performance during the 2022-23 season.
According to data gathered by the cocoa coffee board ONCC, the company’s market share dipped slightly to 35.8% from its previous standing of 36.09% in the preceding campaign.
Owned by businesswoman Kate Fotso, Telcar Cocoa made headlines with its acquisition of 100% of Ndongo Essomba’s assets, a major player in the Centre region, which happens to be Cameroon’s largest cocoa production area.
However, Telcar Cocoa faced a significant challenge stemming from the ongoing insecurity in the Southwest region, which is the country’s second-largest cocoa production area and a primary source of supply for the company.
During the 2022-23 season, this region also witnessed a surge in massive and fraudulent cocoa exports to neighbouring Nigeria. ONCC estimates reveal that approximately 40,000 tons of cocoa were smuggled across the border, causing substantial losses to local traders, particularly Telcar Cocoa.
In addition to the difficulties faced in the Southwest region, Telcar Cocoa has had to contend with rising competition from other traders and local processors.
In the 2021-2022 season, Usicam held the second position among cocoa exporters with a 19.6% market share. However, in the 2022-2023 season, Oficam has surged ahead, boasting a market share of over 23%.
Meanwhile, Sbet, occupying the third position, increased its market share by 1.5%, rising from 9.9% to 11.4% over the two seasons, as per ONCC data.
Recently, the local cocoa processing sector in Cameroon has witnessed growth during the 2022-23 season, with a 2.7% increase in processed volumes.
The expansion is partly attributed to the entry of Africa Processing into the market, further intensifying the competition for cocoa bean purchases.
Currently, the future remains uncertain for Telcar Cocoa as it navigates these challenges. The company’s performance will likely hinge on its ability to capitalize on the Ndongo Essomba acquisition while mitigating losses from the Southwest region.
As the cocoa market in Cameroon continues to evolve, Telcar Cocoa will need to adapt and innovate to regain its lost momentum and secure its position as a leader in this competitive industry.
Meanwhile, Cameroon has raised the fixed farmgate price it pays to cocoa farmers to 1,500 CFA francs (R47) per kilogram for the 2023/2024 season, an increase of one-quarter from the 1,200 CFA francs set for last season.
According to, trade minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the price is the highest since 2015, adding that it was increased due to a global production shortfall.
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