Cameroon saw banana exports fall by 30,000 tonnes last year, allowing Cote d'Ivoire to leapfrog it into first place in terms of African shippers of the fruit.
Banana groups exported a total of 249,610 tonnes in 2016, according to figures from the National Port Authority (NPA) published by Cameroon Banana Association Assobacam, down from 279,493 tonnes in 2015, Investir Au Cameroun reported.
By contrast, Cote d'Ivoire saw its export volumes rise to 280,000 tonnes last year, up from 254,000 tonnes – partly due to the arrival of two new banana companies in the shape of the Ivoiro-Antillean Agricultural Production Corporation and Bananas Antilles-Cote d'Ivoire.
Bananas remain Cameroon's third largest export behind oil and logs/sawnwood.
