(Business in Cameroon) – In 2023, Cameroon held a strong position on the global market, thanks to exports of key products, according to the report on the competitiveness of the Cameroonian economy. Most of the country’s standout exports came from the forestry and logging sectors.
Cameroon was the world’s top exporter of sawn sapelli and iroko wood in 2023. The country also ranked 3rd for other types of sawn tropical woods and 8th for veneer sheets in the global market.
In the cocoa industry, Cameroon placed 8th globally for cocoa paste exports. This was driven by increased local production from new cocoa processing plants, including Atlantic Cocoa, Neo Industry, and Africa Processing.
Cameroon also made strides in the rubber industry. Through companies like the CDC, Sud Cameroun Hévéa, and Hévécam, the country became the world’s 8th largest exporter of fresh rubber latex.
However, the Competitiveness Committee pointed out that despite these achievements, Cameroon’s overall share in the global market remains very small, accounting for just 0.002%. The country ranked 116th among the world’s exporters in 2023, dropping two places from the previous year.
Beyond these niche products, Cameroon is better known for its oil and gas exports. In 2023, crude oil and liquefied natural gas accounted for 52% of the country’s export revenue, totaling CFA421.3 billion, down from CFA631.5 billion in 2022. The country ranked 20th among global exporters of these products.
