Cameroon
Sub-Saharan Africa
Discover more about the Cameroon market. Events, resources, and more are linked throughout the profile.
$42.1M
Total U.S. exports of processed foods to Cameroon in 2023
149%
Growth in U.S. processed food exports to Cameroon since 2022
30.1M
Total population in 2023
Market Overview
Euromonitor reports that the economy in Cameroon expanded in real terms in 2022, driven by increasing public and private consumption and capital investment. However, global economic slowdown, elevated inflationary pressures and tightening financial conditions are set to undermine business and consumer confidence globally.
- Following real growth of 3.8% in 2022, Cameroon's economy is expected to expand at an average annual real GDP rate of 4% in 2024 and 4.2% in 2025.
- Inflation in Cameroon was forecasted to slow down to 2% in 2023 from 2.1% in 2022.
- The public debt-to-GDP ratio in Cameroon rose to 45.8% in 2022, standing below the regional average of 54.8%.
The population of Cameroon was 30.1 million in 2023. The median age is only 18.8 which makes it one of the youngest countries in the world. More than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020.
Cameroon is officially a bilingual (French and English) country. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, railways, and a petroleum industry. Cameroon ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement in 2020.
Top U.S. Processed Food Exports to Cameroon (2023)
- Food Preparations and Ingredients – up 282%
- Fats and Oils – down 69%
- Alcoholic Beverages – up 84%
- Non-Alcoholic Beverages – up 138%
- Chocolate and Confectionery – up 773%
Market Opportunities
- Bilingual country (French and English) - English-only products not disadvantaged
- Room for growth and modernization of the agricultural industry
- Cameroon imports much of its food, particularly higher value and non-staple goods
Key Issues
- High cost of transportation from the U.S. to Douala
- Cameroonian businesses are extremely price-sensitive
- Expensive shipping costs puts U.S. exporters at disadvantage
Retail Sector
$1.3B
Estimated retail sales of packaged food in 2023
28.1%
Growth in retail sales of packaged food
$1.9B
Projected retail sales by 2028
High Growth Product Categories
France-based multinational Carrefour opened its first hypermarket in Cameroon during 2022 at the PlaYce shopping Centre in Yaoundé. The entry of international brands signals increased competition and growth potential in the modern retail sector.
Additional Market Data
USDA FAS: Cameroon – 2023 Trade DataEstablish New Contacts
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