Cameroon’s palm oil exports rose 17% in 2025 to 177 tonnes, from 152 tonnes a year earlier, according to a report by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on foreign trade trends.
This comes despite a longstanding annual palm oil production deficit estimated at 200,000–300,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The shortfall is driven by rising demand from a growing processing industry.
To meet this demand, the government allows large-scale imports each year at reduced duty rates. In 2023, it approved purchases of 200,000 tonnes from international markets, a record high.
Despite the production deficit, exports have continued but remain marginal. In 2023, they reached 1,687.5 tonnes, triple the 657 tonnes recorded in 2022, according to INS data.
BRM
