Cameroon harvest calendar for export buyers month by month
This Cameroon harvest calendar shows when every crop we export comes in, month by month. It explains North and South seasons and helps you time contracts, samples and shipment windows.
This Cameroon harvest calendar shows, month by month, when each crop we export comes in from the field. It covers cocoa, coffee, palm products, grains, pulses, oilseeds, spices, nuts and industrial crops. Use it to plan your buying, set realistic shipment windows and avoid paying extra for out-of-season lots.
Timing matters more than many buyers expect. A sesame contract for shipment in August, for example, falls months before the new crop. Meanwhile, a cocoa order placed in October lands right in the main crop, when supply is at its best.
All windows below are approximate. Rains shift from year to year, and each region has its own rhythm. So treat this Cameroon harvest calendar as a planning tool, then confirm the current crop with us when you send an inquiry.
How to read this Cameroon harvest calendar
The Cameroon harvest calendar has two main tables. The first lists each crop with its regions, harvest window and the months when export lots are usually easiest to prepare. The second runs month by month, so you can see what is coming in at any point in the year.
Three terms are worth knowing before you start:
- Harvest window: the months when farmers pick, cut or dig the crop.
- Export-ready window: the months when lots have been dried, collected, sorted and tested. This usually starts a few weeks after harvest begins.
- Main crop and mid-crop: some crops, such as cocoa, have a large main harvest and a smaller second one.
In addition, a few products are not harvested at all in the usual sense. Palm oil, rubber and charcoal are produced through much of the year. For these, the Cameroon harvest calendar notes the seasonal peaks and dips instead.
Two climates, two rhythms: North vs South
Cameroon stretches from the Gulf of Guinea, at about 2° north, to Lake Chad, at about 13° north. As a result, it has two broad climate systems. That split explains most of the patterns in the Cameroon harvest calendar.
The South: two rainy seasons
The humid forest south has two rainy seasons and two drier spells each year. Roughly, the first rains run from March to June, and the second from about August to November. Therefore many food crops, such as maize and beans, can be grown twice a year. Tree crops like cocoa and Robusta coffee follow the same humid pattern, with long harvest periods.
The western highlands, in the West and North-West regions, sit at altitude. They are cooler, with rich volcanic soils. Arabica coffee, red kidney beans, maize and spices do well there. Highland timing follows the local rains, so dates can vary between valleys.
The North: one rainy season
The North, Far North and Adamawa regions have one rainy season, roughly May or June to September or October. Then a long, hot dry season follows. Farmers sow sesame, sorghum, millet, groundnuts and cotton with the first steady rains. Most of these crops are harvested as the rains end, from about September to December.
The dry season brings its own crops too. Cashew trees flower and fruit in the dry months, so the nut harvest runs from about February to May. In the Far North, farmers also grow dry-season muskwari sorghum on clay soils that hold water after the rains.
| Feature | South and highlands | North, Far North, Adamawa |
|---|---|---|
| Rainy seasons | Two (approx. Mar–Jun and Aug–Nov) | One (approx. May/Jun–Sep/Oct) |
| Typical crops | Cocoa, coffee, oil palm, maize, beans, spices, rubber | Sesame, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, cotton, cashew |
| Harvest pattern | Long or double harvests | One main harvest as rains end |
| Drying conditions | Humid; drying needs care | Dry, sunny; good for sun-drying |
Cameroon harvest calendar by crop
The table below covers every crop behind the products we list. Use it as the core reference of this Cameroon harvest calendar. Each row links to the product page, where you will find specs and packaging.
| Crop / product | Main regions | Harvest window (approx.) | Export lots easiest (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa beans, shells and derivatives | Centre, South, South-West, East, Littoral | Main crop Sep–Feb; mid-crop May–Aug | Oct–Mar (main); Jun–Sep (mid) |
| Green Arabica coffee | West and North-West highlands | Oct–Jan | Dec–Apr |
| Green Robusta coffee | Littoral (Moungo), South-West, East | Nov–Feb | Jan–May |
| Palm kernels, crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, palm kernel cake | Littoral, South-West, Centre, South | All year; peaks vary by area | All year, subject to local demand |
| Sesame seeds | North, Far North, Adamawa | Oct–Dec | Nov–Mar |
| Groundnuts | North, Far North, Adamawa | Sep–Nov | Oct–Feb |
| Soybeans and soybean meal | Adamawa, North, West, North-West | From Oct in the north; highlands vary | Nov–Mar |
| Yellow and white maize | Adamawa, North, West, North-West, Centre | South: Jul–Aug and Nov–Dec; North: Sep–Nov | Sep–Jan, after drying |
| Sorghum | Far North, North, Adamawa | Rainy crop Sep–Nov; muskwari Jan–Mar | Oct–Apr |
| Millet | Far North, North, Adamawa | Aug–Oct | Sep–Jan |
| Rice and rice bran | Far North (Logone plains), North-West (Ndop plain) | End of the rains; irrigated schemes can add a crop | After each milling peak |
| Red kidney beans | West, North-West, Adamawa | Jun–Aug and Oct–Dec | Aug–Sep and Dec–Feb |
| Ginger | West, Littoral (Moungo), Centre | Dec–Mar | Jan–May, after drying |
| Turmeric | West, North-West, Littoral | Mainly the drier months; varies with local rains | Confirmed per inquiry |
| Black and white pepper | Littoral (Moungo valley, Penja area), South-West | Nov–Mar | Jan–May |
| Chili and cayenne pepper | West, Littoral, Centre, North | Spread through much of the year | Best drying in the northern dry season |
| Garlic | West highlands; North and Far North | North: dry season, after the rains; highlands vary | Confirmed per inquiry |
| Raw cashew nuts | North, Adamawa | Feb–May | Mar–Jul |
| Kola nuts and bitter kola | West, Centre, South-West, Littoral, South, East | Varies by species, zone and year | Confirmed per inquiry |
| Natural rubber | South-West, Littoral, South | Tapped all year; lower in the dry-season wintering | All year |
| Cotton lint | North, Far North, Adamawa | Picking Oct–Jan; ginning for months after | Jan–Jun |
| Hardwood charcoal (legal sources) | Centre, South, East | All year; slower in heavy rains | Mostly in drier months |
Product pages: Cocoa Beans, Green Arabica Coffee, Green Robusta Coffee, Sesame Seeds, Groundnuts, Yellow Maize, Sorghum, Red Kidney Beans, Dried Ginger, Black Pepper, Raw Cashew Nuts and Raw Cotton Lint. In this Cameroon harvest calendar, the export-ready column is a guide only. It depends on drying, collection and the lot size you need.
Month-by-month Cameroon harvest calendar
Here is the same data turned around. Pick a month to see what is being harvested and what usually ships well. This view of the Cameroon harvest calendar is handy when you want to fill a container or plan a mixed buying programme.
| Month | Being harvested (approx.) | Often ships well |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cocoa main crop, Arabica (end), Robusta, ginger, pepper, cotton picking (end), muskwari sorghum | Cocoa, sesame, groundnuts, maize, sorghum, millet |
| February | Cocoa main crop (end), Robusta (end), ginger, pepper, muskwari sorghum, cashew (start) | Cocoa, Arabica, Robusta, sesame, cotton lint |
| March | Ginger (end), pepper (end), muskwari sorghum (end), cashew | Arabica, Robusta, ginger, pepper, cotton lint |
| April | Cashew; tree crops in the off-season | Robusta, ginger, pepper, cashew, cotton lint |
| May | Cocoa mid-crop (start), cashew (end) | Robusta (end), pepper (end), cashew |
| June | Cocoa mid-crop, red kidney beans (start) | Cashew, cotton lint, palm products |
| July | Cocoa mid-crop, southern maize, red kidney beans | Cocoa mid-crop lots, cashew (end) |
| August | Cocoa mid-crop (end), southern maize, red kidney beans, millet (start) | Cocoa mid-crop lots, red kidney beans |
| September | Cocoa main crop (start), northern maize, sorghum, millet, groundnuts | Cocoa mid-crop lots, maize, millet |
| October | Cocoa, Arabica (start), sesame, groundnuts, soybeans, sorghum, cotton picking, beans (second) | Cocoa main crop, maize, millet, groundnuts |
| November | Cocoa, Arabica, Robusta (start), sesame, groundnuts (end), maize (second), pepper (start), cotton picking | Cocoa, sesame, groundnuts, soybeans, maize |
| December | Cocoa, Arabica, Robusta, sesame (end), southern maize (end), beans (end), ginger (start), pepper | Cocoa, Arabica, sesame, groundnuts, red kidney beans |
Palm products, rubber, chili, cayenne and charcoal are left out of the monthly rows of the Cameroon harvest calendar, because they run through most of the year. Kola, bitter kola, turmeric and garlic vary too much by area to pin to set months. For these, we confirm what is in stock when you ask.
Crop notes behind the Cameroon harvest calendar
The Cameroon harvest calendar tables give dates. However, a few crop details explain why those dates matter for quality.
Cocoa and coffee
Cocoa main-crop beans tend to be bolder, while mid-crop beans are often smaller, so the bean count per 100 g can be higher. Coffee export lots need time after picking for drying, hulling and grading. That is why the export-ready window starts later than the harvest. Both crops are also checked by the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) before export. Our Arabica vs Robusta guide compares the two coffee seasons in more detail.
Grains, pulses and oilseeds
Northern grains and oilseeds come in as the rains stop. For maize, groundnuts and other grains, we test aflatoxin against your destination limits, because humid storage raises the risk. So lots bought early, dried well and stored off the ground give the best results.
Spices
Pepper and ginger are dry-season crops in the south. Pepper berries are picked and then either sun-dried as black pepper or soaked and peeled to make white pepper. Because drying takes time, the best export lots appear a little after the harvest peak. Our Penja pepper guide tells the story of the Moungo valley crop.
Cashew, cotton and rubber
Cashew is the odd one out among northern crops, since it is harvested in the dry season. Buyers judge each lot by its kernel outturn ratio, explained in our raw cashew nut KOR guide. Cotton is picked from October, then ginned and baled for months, so lint ships well into the new year. Rubber trees are tapped all year, although latex flow drops when trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
How to time contracts with the Cameroon harvest calendar
Knowing the season is only half the job. The other half is turning it into a contract that works. Here is how experienced buyers use the Cameroon harvest calendar.
1. Inquire before the harvest starts
Send your inquiry four to eight weeks before the harvest window opens. That gives time for an offer, a sample and a signed contract. Late inquiries often meet a market that has already sold its best early lots.
2. Set a realistic shipment window
A shipment window is the period in which the seller must load. Match it to the export-ready column, not the harvest column. For example, a Robusta contract for shipment in February or March is far easier to fill than one for December. A wider window, such as one or two months, also leaves room for vessel schedules.
3. Split large volumes across the season
If you need several containers, spread them over the export-ready window. It also lets you test early shipments before the later ones load. Many buyers agree a monthly schedule, with each lot inspected before it leaves.
4. Name the crop year
For crops such as cocoa, coffee, sesame and cashew, state the crop year or “latest crop” in the contract. Old-crop lots may be cheaper, but they can have lower moisture stability or more defects. So, if you want fresh goods, say so in writing.
5. Build in the inspection
Allow a few days for sampling and lab work before loading. Independent inspection, by a company such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or Cotecna, can be arranged at your request. Our quality control page shows each checkpoint, from buying in the region to the final inspection at Douala or Kribi.
What can shift the Cameroon harvest calendar
No harvest calendar is fixed, and the Cameroon harvest calendar is no exception. These are the main factors that move dates or volumes from one year to the next:
- Late or early rains: a delayed rainy season pushes sowing, and therefore harvest, back by weeks.
- Heavy rain at harvest: wet weather slows drying and can raise moisture or mould risk.
- Dry spells: a short rainy season in the north can cut grain and oilseed yields.
- Local demand: Cameroon eats much of its own maize, rice and beans, so export volumes depend on home markets.
- Roads and logistics: northern crops travel a long way to the coast, and the rainy season can slow trucks.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) publishes crop calendars and season reports for many countries, including Cameroon. They are a useful cross-check against this Cameroon harvest calendar. Meanwhile, we share what we see in the regions when you ask about a specific crop.
Quick picks: the best months to book
Want the short answer? These quick picks from the Cameroon harvest calendar give the best inquiry months for popular products.
- Cocoa main crop: inquire in August or September for shipment from October.
- Cocoa mid-crop: inquire in April for shipment from June.
- Arabica: inquire in October or November for shipment from December.
- Robusta: inquire in November or December for shipment from January.
- Sesame: inquire in September or October for shipment from November.
- Raw cashew nuts: inquire in January for shipment from March.
- Black and white pepper: inquire in November for shipment from January.
For year-round products, such as Crude Palm Oil and Natural Rubber, any month works, but give us your volume early. You can also browse every product by category, from Cocoa Products to Spices and Cereals & Pulses.
Why buy from BV Holdings Agro
- We source from producer groups and aggregators across both the north and the south.
- We tell you honestly what is in season and what is not.
- Lots are dried, tested, sorted and packed in new export-marked bags with a lot number.
In short, we use this same Cameroon harvest calendar to plan our own buying. So when we give you a shipment window, it is based on the crop, not on hope.
Cameroon harvest calendar FAQ
When is the cocoa harvest in Cameroon?
Cameroon has two cocoa harvests. The main crop runs from about September to February and gives most of the year’s beans. The mid-crop runs from about May to August and often gives smaller beans. Export lots from the main crop are usually easiest to prepare from October to March. Confirm the current crop when you inquire.
When is coffee harvested in Cameroon?
Arabica from the West and North-West highlands is harvested from about October to January. Robusta from the Littoral, South-West and East comes in from about November to February. Drying, hulling and grading take time after picking. As a result, green coffee export lots usually become easiest to prepare a month or two after harvest begins.
Why do northern and southern crops have different seasons?
The south has two rainy seasons, so food crops can be grown twice a year and tree crops have long harvests. The north has one rainy season, from about May or June to September or October. Therefore most northern crops, such as sesame, sorghum and cotton, are harvested once, as the rains end.
Is the Cameroon harvest calendar the same every year?
The broad pattern is stable, but dates can shift by a few weeks. Late rains, heavy rain at harvest or a short rainy season in the north all move the timing. Treat the Cameroon harvest calendar as a planning guide. Then confirm the current season and stock with us before you set a shipment window.
How far ahead should I place an order?
Send your inquiry four to eight weeks before the harvest window opens in the Cameroon harvest calendar. That leaves time for an offer, a sample, a signed contract and your payment security. For large programmes across a season, start earlier. Then you can agree a monthly loading plan with inspection before each shipment.
Which products are available all year?
Crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, palm kernels and palm kernel cake are produced through the year, although output rises and falls by area. Natural rubber is tapped year-round, with lower output in the dry season. Hardwood charcoal from legal sources is also produced through most of the year, though heavy rains can slow work.
Can I mix products in one shipment window?
Yes, many buyers plan several products in the same months. For example, sesame, groundnuts and maize are all available from about November to January. Each product still has its own contract spec, inspection and papers. Use the month-by-month table in this Cameroon harvest calendar to find products that line up.
Does the season affect the price?
Yes. Supply is usually best soon after harvest, while lots can be scarce late in the season. However, world markets, crop size, freight and the Incoterm also drive offers. We do not publish prices. Instead, we send a written offer after your inquiry, based on the current crop and your shipment window.
One arm of BV Holdings PLC
BV Holdings Agro is the agricultural export company of BV Holdings PLC, alongside BV Cocoa Products and BV Metal & Minerals.
Plan your next shipment window
Tell us the crop, volume and month you need, and we will confirm the season and send an offer.