(Business in Cameroon) – The Port Authority of Douala (PAD) reported a net profit of 12.5 billion CFA francs for 2024, a decline of 1.9 billion CFA francs from the 14.4 billion CFA francs posted in 2023. This represents a 15.2% year-over-year decrease, according to a press release issued after its 124th, 125th, and 126th Board of Directors meetings held on June 4-5, 2025.
The public enterprise, which manages the port infrastructure of Cameroon’s economic capital, also saw a 4.8% drop in revenue, falling from 119.6 billion CFA francs in 2023 to 114.1 billion CFA francs in 2024. However, the company’s total assets significantly improved, rising from 453.8 billion CFA francs to 505.4 billion CFA francs over the same period.
PAD’s senior management did not elaborate on the reasons behind the weaker performance. Instead, they expressed “satisfaction with the ambitious management of the normalization, performance, and competitiveness process at the Port of Douala.”
During the same sessions, the board approved the pricing for services provided by Terminal Bois du Port de Douala (TBPD), as well as PAD’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy, strategy, and charter.
For 2025, PAD is targeting revenues of 130 billion CFA francs against projected expenditures of 128.9 billion CFA francs. An internal source at the port authority explained that the approximately 8% reduction in the 2025 budget compared to 2024 is primarily due to a drop in external resources, notably in bank financing for major investment projects.
In 2024, bank financing amounted to 34 billion CFA francs. For 2025, it is expected to reach 18 billion CFA francs, which corresponds to the remaining balance of a credit agreement signed with banking partners.
PAD secured a loan from a banking consortium in November 2022. Of the 100 billion CFA franc facility, 55 billion CFA francs were specifically earmarked for financing strategic investment projects.
Frédéric Nonos
