Vanilla Comeback: Comoros moves to regain its place in global market

COMOROS – The Union of the Comoros is working to restore its vanilla sector after years of decline that saw its contribution to the national economy fall sharply.

Once the country’s top agricultural export alongside cloves, the industry has struggled due to falling prices and unsold stockpiles.

From October 24 to 26, Comoros hosted a national conference bringing together producers, exporters, government officials, and development partners to set a clear direction for reviving the sector. The event came at a time when global vanilla prices have plunged by more than 80% over the past five years.

According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), the price of a kilogram of vanilla fell from $650 in 2019 to less than $100 in 2023.

The agency attributes this to the Covid-19 pandemic and the price floor introduced by Madagascar, which dominates over 80% of global supply. These developments led to oversupply and weakened market confidence.

In a 2024 report, the ITC noted that about 23 tonnes of Comorian vanilla from the 2022 and 2023 harvests remained unsold by early 2024. The export cost of Comorian vanilla was around €191 per kilogram (about US$204), while the international price hovered at US$120.

“This situation particularly weakens processors who took out loans to acquire green vanilla,” the report stated.

The result has been a sharp fall in export earnings. The Central Bank of the Comoros reported that the sector brought in only 300 million Comorian francs (US$700,000) in 2024, down from 2 billion francs (US$4.7 million) in 2022.

A reform plan for revival

The Ministry of Agriculture said in an October 26 statement that discussions during the conference produced seven priority areas for reform. These include centralizing vanilla stocks through the Comorian Office of Revenue Products (OCPR) to ensure better traceability and control.

A debt moratorium was also agreed upon, with losses shared equally between the State, banks, and private operators.

The government plans to diversify export markets toward Africa, the Arab world, and Asia, while encouraging local processing to capture more value.

It also intends to train farmers on international production standards and introduce a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label called “Vanilla of the Comoros.” “A multi-sectoral monitoring committee will soon be established to ensure the effective implementation of the adopted recommendations,” the ministry said.

Untapped potential

Despite recent struggles, the ITC estimates Comoros’ vanilla export potential at $11.3 million a year. Current figures show the country is tapping only about 6% of that.

France, the United States, and Germany remain its main markets, but Comoros faces competition from Madagascar, Uganda, and Papua New Guinea, which can offer larger and more consistent supplies.

The ITC also noted that barriers such as limited market research, lack of trade networks, and difficulty meeting buyer requirements prevent Comoros from reaching its potential. The coming months will test whether these new reforms can put the nation’s vanilla back on the world stage.

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