MBANKOMO, Cameroon, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Cameroon surpassed

its annual target of 300,000 metric tons of cocoa for the first

time in the 2024/2025 season, marking a significant milestone

for the world's fifth-largest producer, the Central African

country's trade minister said on Thursday.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025/2026 cocoa season in

Mbankomo, near the capital Yaounde, Trade Minister Luc Magloire

Mbarga Atangana said domestic traded volume for the season from

August 1 2024 to July 15 2025 rose by 16% to 309,518 tons from

266,710 tons in the previous one.

"This is the first time we have crossed this symbolic

threshold. The last season was exceptional," the minister said,

adding that the result reflected the resilience of farmers and

the government's efforts to restructure the sector.

Atangana also said that farmgate prices maintained an upward

trend, ranging from 3,210 CFA francs ($5.75) to 5,400 CFA francs

per kilogram during the season.

Speaking to farmers, exporters and other stakeholders,

Atangana said the government was introducing premiums for

quality cocoa beans in the 2025/2026 season.

He added that the government will prioritise sustainability

and compliance with evolving global standards, especially the

European Union's deforestation-free regulation, to boost the

competitiveness of Cameroon's cocoa in international markets.

The country is expected to roll out a platform that will

provide plantations' location data to comply with the EU

regulation.

Data from the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB)

regulator showed on Thursday that before the last season, the

country has consistently exported between 200,000 tons and

295,000 tons of cocoa annually - with a peak export volume of

295,163 tons in 2021/22.

The NCCB said nearly 80% of Cameroon's cocoa was exported to

the European market, and around 19% went to Asia. Meanwhile,

Nigeria significantly increased its cocoa imports from Cameroon

to 2,100 tons.

SBET was Cameroon's leading exporter, with 18.45%, while

Telcar Cocoa, a Cargill joint venture, purchased

16.18%.

Ofi Cam, a subsidiary of Olam International, was in third

position with 14.93% of the exports.

($1 = 558.2500 CFA francs)