(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroonian brewer SABC, a local subsidiary of the French brewer Castel, has launched a new production line at its Ndokoti plant in Douala. The new line, which costs CFA8 billion, has the capacity to produce 35,000 bottles (50 cl) per hour. This expansion will allow the production of a variety of drinks, including beers and sodas, and is expected to increase the plant’s annual output by around 600,000 hectoliters, aimed at strengthening market supply, according to Kpoumie Ngouhou Mama, the operations director for SABC’s Douala plants.
This increased production is a response to the current beverage shortage, with plans to further boost output with the completion of line 15, scheduled for mid-June. The new line will add an additional 400,000 hectoliters, bringing the combined increase from both new lines to 1 million hectoliters annually.
This investment is part of a larger five-year plan (2023-2027) totaling CFA200 billion, aimed at meeting the growing demand in the beverage market. As part of this plan, SABC has already invested over CFA21 billion in a new production line in Yaoundé, which was inaugurated in April 2024.
Looking ahead, the company plans to launch four more lines in 2025, including one in Bafoussam in the west, two in Douala (one of which is already operational), and one in Garoua in the north. These new lines will add 2.5 million hectoliters (250 million liters) to the company’s capacity, representing a 30% increase from current levels.
Kpoumie Ngouhou Mama explained that these investments will help SABC reach a production capacity of 9.5 million hectoliters by 2027, while meeting an estimated demand of 7.7 million hectoliters. This will ensure that demand is met starting in 2026, with a reserve of 1.8 million hectoliters. However, considering the market’s expected growth of about 5% annually, SABC acknowledges that future investments may be needed, and the company is already working on a new investment plan for 2028.
