(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s main maritime gateway, the Port Authority of Douala (PAD), recorded a mixed performance in early 2025. According to the Ministry of Finance’s economic bulletin, revenue rose 25.9% in the first quarter, while total traffic declined 6.9%. The drop was driven by lower import tonnage (-8.1%) and export volumes (-1.8%). The number of vessels docking at the Douala-Bonabéri port also fell by 11%, from 293 in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 260 in the first quarter of 2025.
This logistical underperformance contrasts with the temporary rise in revenue, largely due to the early-year payment of land-use fees. Year-on-year, the ministry reported a 3.2% increase in maritime transport income but a 2.9% drop in total traffic, reflecting ongoing challenges across the national port logistics chain.
As Cameroon’s economic hub, Douala handles between 75% and 85% of national freight and a major share of goods bound for Chad and the Central African Republic. However, the port continues to face chronic congestion. According to logistics platform Gocomet, ship waiting time has now reached nine days, compared with seven in Abidjan and Lekki (Nigeria).
Several factors contribute to the situation. Navigation through the Wouri River requires frequent dredging to accommodate large vessels, while heavy seasonal rains have slowed docking operations. The seasonal export peak for cocoa and rising regional demand have further strained the terminals.
The Port Authority of Douala says it is maintaining its modernization investments. In late 2023, it announced a CFA12 billion plan to acquire eight new yard cranes to boost productivity. Yet aging equipment, slow dredging, and continued traffic growth still weigh on performance at Cameroon’s main port.
