Belgian plantation company SIPEF is expanding its banana operations in Côte d’Ivoire with the planned acquisition of Tiabam, a 450-hectare plantation in the Tiassalé region that produces between 12,000 and 14,000 tonnes of bananas a year.
The deal, announced on September 7, is being carried out through SIPEF’s local subsidiary, Plantations J. Eglin. Completion is expected later in September, subject to the closing of the transaction. Tiabam is located close to SIPEF’s existing Akoudjé estate, giving the company an opportunity to consolidate operations across the area.
Of Tiabam’s approximately 450 hectares, 320 hectares are currently in production. The plantation is certified under GLOBALG.A.P. and Rainforest Alliance standards and employs nearly 400 people. More than 70% of its banana production is exported to Europe, while the remainder supplies other African markets and Côte d’Ivoire’s domestic market.
The acquisition strengthens a banana business that is already significant within SIPEF’s Côte d’Ivoire operations. The company currently has 1,238 hectares of banana plantations in the country, which produced 52,159 tonnes in 2025. SIPEF says the addition of Tiabam will allow it to pursue further productivity gains through crop optimisation and targeted capital investment.
The location of Tiabam is also commercially important. Its proximity to SIPEF’s existing Akoudjé estate could allow the company to coordinate technical management, procurement, logistics, packaging and export activities more efficiently across the neighbouring operations.
The expansion comes as SIPEF continues to grow its banana business. In the first half of 2026, the group’s banana production increased by 9.4% year-on-year. In Côte d’Ivoire, SIPEF has also been investing in plantation infrastructure and digitalisation of its banana supply chain.
The European market remains central to the strategy. SIPEF reported that its European banana sales increased by 11.3% in 2025, supported by product quality, supply-chain efficiency and compliance with sustainability and certification requirements.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the expansion highlights the growing role of commercial horticulture in connecting domestic agricultural production to international food markets. The country is already an important banana supplier to Europe, while investments in production, certification, logistics and processing infrastructure can strengthen the value generated from agricultural land.
NBF Insight
SIPEF’s Tiabam acquisition is more than an expansion of planted area. By adding an established plantation next to its existing operations, the company is building scale around production, logistics and export access, showing how consolidation can become a tool for making African horticulture more competitive in global markets.
