(Business in Cameroon) – Chad was the primary destination for Cameroon’s informal cross-border exports in 2024, absorbing 50.6 percent of the total flow, valued at 108.8 billion CFA francs, according to data from Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Chad’s landlocked position and heavy reliance on external supplies are the main reasons for its dominant position.
The top goods exported to the Chadian market were wheat flour (17.5 percent), husked rice (14.2 percent), soaps and detergents (11.4 percent), and firewood (8.0 percent). Wheat flour remained the leading product despite a slight decrease from 2023. Rice and soaps confirmed their importance due to their central role in daily consumption, while firewood remained significant despite a drop in its share.
Beyond these traditional products, the INS noted the emergence of new export categories, including oilseed cake and bricks, which saw strong growth. “This emergence of new products could reflect a gradual shift in the structure of trade, based on the specific needs of the Chadian market,” the report highlighted.
Overall, Cameroon’s informal exports to its neighboring countries totaled 214.98 billion CFA francs in 2024. These exports are mainly concentrated in about 20 agricultural, agri-food, and manufactured products, which account for 80.6 percent of the total value. The most significant of these include cocoa beans (19.3 percent), wheat flour (9.2 percent), husked rice (8.8 percent), and soaps and detergents (6.5 percent), confirming the major role of these consumer goods in cross-border trade.
Amina Malloum
