Cameroon cereals and pulses graded for export
BV Holdings Agro exports Cameroon cereals and pulses: yellow and white maize, sorghum, millet, rice and red kidney beans. Each lot is cleaned, tested for moisture and aflatoxin, and loaded at Douala or Kribi.
Browse Cameroon cereals and pulses
Open any product for its typical specification, packing, documents and FAQ.
Yellow Maize
Cameroon yellow maize for feed mills and grain millers.
View specification1005HS 1005.90White Maize
Cameroon white maize for flour millers, food makers and grain traders.
View specification1007HS 1007.90Sorghum
Cameroon sorghum in red and white types for brewers, millers and feed makers.
View specification1008HS 1008.29Millet
Cameroon millet, mainly pearl millet, for flour millers, food makers and bird seed blenders.
View specification1006HS 1006Rice
Cameroon rice, paddy or milled long grain, from the Logone plains and the Ndop plain.
View specification0713HS 0713.33Red Kidney Beans
Cameroon red kidney beans, dark red and light red, from the West, North-West and Adamawa highlands.
View specification1005HS 1005.90Maize overview
Yellow and white maize compared: seasons, feed and milling uses, and aflatoxin limits.
Read the overview
BV Holdings Agro exports Cameroon cereals and pulses to flour millers, food processors, brewers, feed mills and grain traders. Our range covers yellow maize, white maize, sorghum, millet, rice and red kidney beans. Each lot is cleaned, tested and loaded at Douala or Kribi on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Grains and beans are the backbone of farming in Cameroon. Maize grows almost everywhere, while sorghum and millet rule the dry north. Meanwhile, rice comes from irrigated plains, and red kidney beans come from the cool highlands. We buy Cameroon cereals and pulses from producer groups, mills and aggregators in each zone, then consolidate lots for export.
This hub compares the six lines side by side. First, it shows which grain or pulse suits which buyer. Then it covers specifications, testing, packing, documents, pricing and ordering. For a full overview of our maize trade, see our Maize overview page.
Cameroon cereals and pulses at a glance
The table below lists the six Cameroon cereals and pulses we offer. Each name links to its own product page with a full typical specification and FAQ.
| Line | HS code | Main regions | Main buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Maize | 1005.90 | West, North-West, Adamawa, North, Centre | Feed mills, starch and grain traders |
| White Maize | 1005.90 | Adamawa, North, West, North-West, Centre | Flour millers, food makers |
| Sorghum | 1007.90 | Far North, North, Adamawa | Brewers, millers, feed makers |
| Millet | 1008.29 | Far North, North, Adamawa | Millers, food makers, bird seed blenders |
| Rice | 1006 | Far North (Logone plains), North-West (Ndop plain) | Rice millers, importers |
| Red Kidney Beans | 0713.33 | West, North-West, Adamawa highlands | Canners, food importers, wholesalers |
In short, maize, sorghum, millet and rice are cereals, while red kidney beans are a pulse. Cereals bring starch and energy. Pulses, by contrast, bring protein and fibre. So many buyers source both from one origin.
Where Cameroon cereals and pulses are grown
Cameroon runs from humid forest in the south to dry savannah near Lake Chad. That range of climates lets it grow a wide set of grains and beans. As a result, Cameroon cereals and pulses come from four distinct farming zones.
The dry north: sorghum and millet
The Far North, North and Adamawa regions have one rainy season and a long dry season. Sorghum and millet handle heat and short rains well. Rainy-season crops are harvested late in the year, after the rains end. In addition, parts of the Far North grow a dry-season sorghum called muskwari. Farmers transplant it onto clay soils after the floods recede, so it grows on stored soil moisture.
Maize country
Maize grows in Adamawa, the North, the West, the North-West and the Centre. In the south, there are two seasons, about July to August and November to December. In the north, the main harvest runs from about September to November. As a result, maize can be sourced at several points in the year.
Rice plains
Rice comes mainly from two zones. In the Far North, the Logone river floods wide clay plains, where large irrigated schemes grow rice. In the North-West, the Ndop plain grows rice in a cooler, upland setting.
The highlands: red kidney beans
Red kidney beans grow in the West, North-West and Adamawa highlands. There are two seasons, about June to August and October to December. Our Cameroon Harvest Calendar shows the main seasons for every crop we ship.
Typical specification for Cameroon cereals and pulses
Each of our Cameroon cereals and pulses has its own detailed table on its product page. However, the summary below helps you compare the range quickly.
| Line | Moisture | Foreign matter | Broken or split | Other key value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow maize | ≤ 14% | ≤ 1% | ≤ 4% | Aflatoxin ≤ 20 ppb for feed, or your limit |
| White maize | ≤ 14% | ≤ 1% | ≤ 3% | Yellow or coloured grains ≤ 2% |
| Sorghum | ≤ 13% | ≤ 2% (1% for food and brewing) | ≤ 5% | Red or white types |
| Millet | ≤ 12% | ≤ 1% | ≤ 2% | Purity ≥ 98% |
| Rice | ≤ 14% | ≤ 0.5% | 5%, 15% or 25% by grade | Paddy or milled long grain |
| Red kidney beans | ≤ 15% | Admixture ≤ 1% | ≤ 2% | Off-colour ≤ 2% |
Final specifications are confirmed in each contract and verified before loading.
How to choose: quick picks
Each of our Cameroon cereals and pulses suits a different end use. These quick picks match common buyer needs to the right line.
- Poultry and pig feed: yellow maize, the classic energy grain.
- Maize flour, meal and food staples: white maize, with low coloured-grain content.
- Brewing and malting: sorghum, often white or low-tannin types.
- Gluten-free flours and porridge: millet or sorghum.
- Bird seed blends: millet, cleaned to a high purity.
- Rice milling or resale: paddy for millers, milled long grain for importers.
- Canning and dry bean retail packs: red kidney beans, dark red or light red.
Not sure which fits? Tell us your end product and process. We will then suggest a line and a grade, and send a sample.
Yellow or white maize?
Both share the same HS code, yet they serve different markets. Yellow maize carries carotenoid pigments, which help colour egg yolks and poultry skin. So feed mills prefer it. White maize, by contrast, is the staple food grain across much of Africa. As a result, flour millers usually ask for white maize with a strict limit on yellow grains.
Grades within Cameroon cereals and pulses
Most lines come in more than one grade, type or form. Knowing the options helps you write a tighter inquiry.
- Maize: graded on moisture, broken and damaged grains, foreign matter and test weight.
- Sorghum: red or white types, with tighter foreign matter limits for food and brewing lots.
- Millet: mainly pearl millet, grey to cream, at 98% minimum purity.
- Rice: paddy, or milled long grain at 5%, 15% or 25% broken.
- Red kidney beans: dark red or light red, medium to large size.
In short, tighter limits suit food uses, while feed lots can accept wider ones. So state your end use, and we will match Cameroon cereals and pulses to the right grade. In addition, a sample lets you confirm the grade before you sign.
Why pulses differ from cereals
Pulses are dried legume seeds, so buyers judge them differently from grain. Colour, size and skin quality matter a great deal to canners and packers. Split beans and off-colour beans lower the value of a lot. For this reason, our kidney beans are machine-cleaned and then hand-sorted before packing.
Quality control for Cameroon cereals and pulses
Cameroon cereals and pulses must stay dry and clean from field to ship. We follow five checkpoints for every lot. Our quality control page explains the full method.
- Buy in region: we buy from known producer groups, mills and aggregators.
- Dry and store: lots rest off the ground in covered warehouses at target moisture.
- Sample and test: we test each lot against the contract specification.
- Clean, sort and pack: lots are cleaned and packed in new export-marked bags with a lot number.
- Inspect and load: independent inspection and fumigation where required, then loading at Douala or Kribi.
What we test
Moisture and foreign matter are checked on every lot. For maize and other grains, aflatoxin is tested against your destination limit. We also check broken grains, damaged grains and live insects. For red kidney beans, the lots are machine-cleaned and hand-sorted, then fumigated before loading.
Buyers may nominate an inspection company, such as SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or Cotecna. Therefore, an independent inspector can confirm weight and quality before loading.
Why moisture matters
Damp grain heats up in a container. Then moulds grow, and some of them make aflatoxins. Insects also breed faster in warm, wet grain. For this reason, we keep each lot within the agreed moisture limit and recheck before loading.
Uses and industries for Cameroon cereals and pulses
Cameroon cereals and pulses reach a wide set of buyers. Each one uses them in a different way.
- Flour and maize meal millers: white maize, sorghum and millet for food flours.
- Feed mills: yellow maize as the main energy grain, plus sorghum in some rations.
- Brewers: sorghum for lager-style and traditional beers.
- Rice millers and importers: paddy or milled rice for local markets.
- Canners and packers: red kidney beans for tins and dry bean packs.
- Bird seed and pet food blenders: millet and sorghum.
So one origin can serve food, feed and drinks plants alike. For example, a group with a flour mill and a feed mill can buy white and yellow maize on one contract. If you also need protein meals, see our Animal Feed Ingredients range.
Packaging, loading and container capacity
We pack Cameroon cereals and pulses in new export-marked PP bags. Containers are clean, dry and odour-free. The table shows typical packing and approximate loads.
| Line | Typical packing | Approx. load per 20ft |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow maize | 50 kg PP bags; liner bags for bulk by agreement | About 22–25 tonnes |
| White maize | 50 kg PP bags; liner bags for bulk by agreement | About 25 tonnes |
| Sorghum | 50 kg PP bags | About 25 tonnes |
| Millet | 50 kg PP bags; 25 kg bags by agreement | About 25 tonnes |
| Rice | 25 kg or 50 kg PP bags | About 25 tonnes |
| Red kidney beans | 25 kg or 50 kg PP bags | About 24 tonnes |
These loads are approximate industry norms. Actual weights depend on bag size and road limits. We confirm the figure for your lot in the offer.
We load at Douala or Kribi and quote FOB, CFR or CIF. Fumigation is carried out where the destination requires it.
Export documents and compliance
Each shipment of Cameroon cereals and pulses travels with a full document set. The exact list depends on the line and the destination. Our export documents page explains every document.
- Commercial invoice and packing list.
- Bill of lading.
- Phytosanitary certificate from MINADER plant protection.
- Certificate of origin.
- Weight and quality certificate from the agreed inspection company.
- Fumigation certificate where required.
- Lab reports, such as aflatoxin or pesticide residue, where agreed.
Buyer-country rules
Food markets set limits for aflatoxin, pesticide residues and live insects. For example, EU maximum residue levels apply to grain and beans sold in the EU. Grains and pulses are not on the current EUDR list of covered goods. Still, please tell us your destination early, so we can plan the right tests. The World Customs Organization HS overview explains the HS codes listed above.
We do not claim organic or other certified status for our lots. However, company registration and export documents are provided during supplier onboarding on request.
How pricing works for Cameroon cereals and pulses
We quote Cameroon cereals and pulses per lot and per date, not from a fixed list. Grain and bean prices move with world markets and local harvests. Several factors shape each offer.
- World markets: maize futures and regional grain prices set the tone.
- Local demand: Cameroon eats much of its own maize, rice and beans, so home demand matters.
- Grade: low broken, low foreign matter and clean colour earn a premium.
- Season: prices often ease at harvest and firm before the next crop.
- Incoterm: CFR and CIF add freight and, for CIF, insurance.
To get a sharp offer, give us as much detail as you can. For example, state the grade, broken limit, colour and aflatoxin limit you need. Also name your destination port and shipment window. A clear brief lets us match the right lot faster.
Payment terms are agreed per contract. The Food and Agriculture Organization publishes useful data on world cereal markets.
How to order Cameroon cereals and pulses
Ordering follows six clear steps. Our export process page explains each one.
- 1. Inquiry: you send the line, grade, volume, port and Incoterm.
- 2. Offer and sample: we send a written offer and, where possible, a sample.
- 3. Contract: we both sign the spec, price, Incoterm, payment terms, inspection method and shipment window.
- 4. Payment security: you arrange the agreed instrument.
- 5. Preparation and inspection: we prepare, test and inspect the lot.
- 6. Shipment and documents: we ship, then release documents per the payment terms.
Orders for Cameroon cereals and pulses start from one 20ft container. If you are new to the origin, our How to Import from Cameroon guide explains the basics.
Why buy from BV Holdings Agro
- Six grain and pulse lines from one Cameroon exporter.
- Lots tested for moisture, foreign matter and aflatoxin before loading.
- Independent inspection by a company you nominate, on request.
- Two ports, three Incoterms and a full document set.
- Honest answers on availability, especially for rice.
Many buyers of Cameroon cereals and pulses also source seeds and spices. For example, you can add sesame from our Oil Seeds range or ginger from our Spices range.
FAQ
Which Cameroon cereals and pulses do you export?
We export yellow maize, white maize, sorghum, millet, rice and red kidney beans. Maize comes from Adamawa, the North and the western highlands. Sorghum and millet come from the dry north, while rice comes from the Logone and Ndop plains. Beans come from the highlands. Each line has its own product page with a typical specification.
What is the minimum order?
Orders start from one 20ft container per line. Most bagged grains fill a 20ft at about 22 to 25 tonnes, and red kidney beans at about 24 tonnes. You can also order 40ft containers, within road and sea weight limits. We confirm the exact load for your lot in the written offer, so you can plan freight.
Do you test Cameroon cereals and pulses for aflatoxin?
Yes. Aflatoxin in maize and other grains is tested against your destination limit. For yellow maize, a typical feed limit is 20 ppb maximum. Meanwhile, for white maize sold as food, limits are often lower, such as 10 ppb total, or your own limit. You can also nominate an independent lab or inspection company.
Is Cameroon rice always available for export?
Not always. Cameroon eats much of its own rice and also imports rice to meet home demand. So export volumes depend on the season and on what local markets absorb. For this reason, we confirm availability, grade and volume for every rice inquiry before we make an offer. We prefer a candid answer to a missed shipment.
What types of red kidney beans do you supply?
We supply dark red and light red kidney beans, medium to large in size. Lots are machine-cleaned and hand-sorted, then fumigated before loading. Typical limits are moisture 15% maximum, admixture 1% maximum and broken or split beans 2% maximum. There are two seasons, about June to August and October to December.
Which sorghum is best for brewing?
Brewers often prefer white or low-tannin sorghum, because high tannin can affect malting and flavour. Some red types carry more tannin. For food and brewing lots, we typically limit foreign matter to 1%. Tell us your brewing process and target spec. We will then suggest a type and send a sample for your own malting tests.
Are Cameroon cereals and pulses covered by EUDR?
No. Maize, sorghum, millet, rice and beans are not on the current list of goods covered by the EU Deforestation Regulation. However, EU food rules on residues and contaminants still apply. Please tell us your destination at inquiry stage. We will then plan the lab tests your market requires before the lot is loaded.
Can I get a sample of Cameroon cereals and pulses before I sign?
Yes. Samples and offers follow an inquiry. Send us the line, grade, volume, destination port and Incoterm. We will reply with a written offer and, where possible, a representative sample. You can then test it in your own lab or mill. As a result, you know what you are buying before you commit to a contract.
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.
Source grain and beans from Cameroon
Tell us the line, grade, volume and port, and we will reply with a clear written offer.