Cocoa exports from Cameroon, Africa's fourth largest producer, rose to 177,509 tonnes in the nine months to end-March, up from 143,374 tonnes during the same period in the previous season, the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (NCCB) said on Tuesday.

In March, Cameroon shipped 10,810 tonnes of cocoa beans, down from 19,806 tonnes in February but a sharp increase from 3,207 tonnes in the same month a year ago.

The NCCB said 21 companies exported beans in March.

Cameroon Marketing Commodities (CAMACO) topped the chart with 2,558 tonnes, followed by Olam Cam with 1,713 tonnes and Ets Ndongo Essomba with 1,621 tonnes.

The cocoa season in Cameroon runs from Aug. 1 to July 31, with a main harvest period from October to January/February and a light crop harvest period from April/May to June/July.

Cameroon's output of cocoa, one of its main cash crops, hit a record of 240,000 tonnes in the 2010/11 season, before falling back in recent years due to climate and crop diseases.