Ginger market in Cameroon

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the ginger market in Cameroon expanded from 49 932 t to 55 395 t. This growth was underpinned by the resilience of the domestic economy and the availability of local raw materials, which bolstered agricultural output. In 2020, border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted import flows for agricultural inputs, but this also encouraged a shift towards domestic production as supply chains adapted to rely more on local sources.

After peaking in 2020, the market volume moderated and stabilized around 53 000 t. The rise in agricultural input and food prices following the war in Ukraine in 2022 increased production costs, exerting downward pressure on the market. This was partly offset by ongoing government subsidy programs for SMEs and local industry, which aimed to strengthen domestic production. Concurrently, the expansion of digital tools and internet access from 2021 onwards facilitated the marketing and promotion of local ginger, supporting a diversification into value-added forms such as powders and packaged goods.

Production ginger in Cameroon

In kind, 2017-2020, t

On a global scale, Cameroon ranked as the 8th largest producer of ginger between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of ginger, 2017-2020

World map of production of ginger, 2017-2020

Ginger production in Cameroon grew for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 55 428 tonnes of ginger, marking an 8.6% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 23.2%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports ginger from Cameroon

Exports in kind, kg

The market displayed volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 9 740 kg and peaked in 2020 at 46 075 kg, representing a 4.7-fold difference. In 2020, Cameroon exported 46 075 kg of ginger, reflecting a sharp year-on-year increase of 83.2%. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 55.1%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 158.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, France, Gabon, and the United States were the main markets for Cameroon's ginger exports in volume terms, accounting for 43.8%, 30.8%, and 8.7% of exports, respectively. Together, they represented 83.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Export values reached their lowest in 2018 at 4 923 US dollars and peaked in 2019 at 31 183 US dollars, with a 6.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Cameroon's ginger exports in value terms totaled 21 691 US dollars, corresponding to a 30.4% decrease compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 53.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 533.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cameroon in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, Chad, Gabon, and France were the key partners for Cameroon's ginger exports in value terms, accounting for 29.4%, 25.2%, and 23.6% of exports, respectively. Collectively, they represented 78.1% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Cameroon in value, 2017-2020

Imports ginger to Cameroon

Imports in kind, kg

The market showed an unstable trend over this period. Imports bottomed in 2019 at 1 451 kg and peaked in 2020 at 12 636 kg, with an 8.7-fold difference. In 2020, Cameroon imported 12 636 kg of ginger, equivalent to a sharp 770.8% increase compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 45.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Between 2017 and 2020, Nigeria, France, and Germany formed the main cluster of markets for Cameroon's ginger imports in volume terms, accounting for 63.1%, 13.6%, and 11.3% of imports, respectively. Together, they held a combined share of 87.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Import values reached their low in 2018 at 2 825 US dollars and their high in 2019 at 9 901 US dollars, varying 3.5 times between these points. In 2020, Cameroon imported a total of 4 557 US dollars worth of ginger, representing a sharp decline of 54.0% compared to the previous year. The largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 250.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cameroon in value, 2017-2020, $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Côte d'Ivoire, France, and Germany continued to lead as the main suppliers of ginger to Cameroon in value terms, accounting for 22.8%, 18.7%, and 17.9% of imports, respectively. Jointly, they represented 59.4% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Cameroon in value, 2017-2020