(Business in Cameroon) – Credit extended by commercial banks in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) surged to 12,810.6 billion XAF in the second quarter of 2025. This figure represents an 11.3% increase from the preceding quarter, according to the Bank of Central African States (BEAC).
The central bank attributed the rise to stronger bank lending to the real economy, particularly in industry and services , two sectors currently driving the region’s recovery. By sector, there was a rebound in industrial investment and steady demand for financing in services, especially trade, telecommunications, and related industries.
By maturity, lending trends were mixed. Short-term loans surged 15.5%, contributing 8.3 percentage points to overall credit growth. Medium-term loans rose 5.1%, adding 2.2 points, while long-term loans recorded the sharpest increase at 25.3% but contributed only 0.8 points to total growth.
The BEAC noted that although medium- and long-term lending, which better supports capital investment, expanded, the market remains dominated by short-term credit, accounting for more than 70% of all bank loans. These typically have maturities of less than two years and mainly finance household consumption and companies’ working capital needs.
The composition of credit shows banks remain cautious about default risks in a still-fragile economic environment, even as the region’s productive industries continue to drive a gradual recovery.
BRM
