Cameroon’s pineapple exports continue to slide amid global competition

CAMEROON – Cameroon has seen a steady decline in pineapple exports over the past five years, raising concerns about its competitiveness in the global fruit market.

Between 2020 and 2025, Cameroon’s pineapple exports fell by 18.1%, according to a report on the competitiveness of the Cameroonian economy published by the Competitiveness Committee of the Ministry of Economy. Exports to European Union countries, Cameroon’s main market, declined by 19.5%.

« The pineapple sector recorded a decline in total exports (-18.1%) and an even more pronounced fall to the EU (-19.5%). This suggests problems of competitiveness or compliance with standards that cannot be solved by market access alone,” the report states, emphasizing that the issues go beyond simple trade openness.

Cameroon’s share of the global pineapple market has stagnated at 0.1% since 2019, far behind Côte d’Ivoire, which holds 0.9%. The decline in exports in 2024 has further pushed Cameroon to the margins of the international market, despite global demand for pineapple increasing by 7.3% in 2023.

Challenges in productivity and land use

Experts point to low productivity and limited farmland as key factors affecting Cameroon’s performance. FAO data shows that pineapple yields per hectare in Cameroon are only half of those in Costa Rica, the world’s leading pineapple exporter. Costa Rica and the Philippines dominated the market in 2023, holding 49.2% and 14.8% respectively, and maintaining a strong market presence over 2019-2023.

« The productivity differential and the extent of the areas farmed largely explain this lacklustre performance on the world pineapple market, for which there is significant potential demand,” the Competitiveness Committee notes.

The report highlights the need for improvements in standards compliance, farm practices, and investment in production infrastructure to help Cameroon better leverage its potential. The government has reportedly initiated several programs to support smallholder farmers and improve quality control, though these measures have yet to produce significant results.

The Competitiveness Committee also calls for stronger coordination between public and private actors to boost export performance. « Without targeted support and investment, Cameroon risks remaining on the sidelines of the dynamic expansion of international trade in this fruit,” the report concludes.

With the global pineapple market projected to continue its growth, Cameroon faces pressure to enhance productivity and align with international standards if it hopes to regain a meaningful presence in global trade.

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