Paddy rice market in Cameroon

Earlier Report Observations

In the initial years, Cameroon's paddy rice market faced significant storage and distribution challenges, highlighted by the discovery of 160 000 t of spoiled grain in 2019, which coincided with a drop in production. Export restrictions to Nigeria and logistical losses reported by the state-owned SEMRY further constrained the volume available for the domestic market during this period.

From 2021, production began a sustained recovery driven by the dissemination of 50 improved rice varieties by the agricultural research institute IRAD and increased government funding for seed research. This was reinforced by a firm import-substitution policy, including a government order to rapidly reduce rice imports—leading to a 24% drop in import value by 2023—and a total ban on re-exports to Nigeria, which bolstered local output to over 343 000 t by 2022.

Looking ahead, state-owned enterprises SEMRY and UNVDA remained central to expansion plans, with SEMRY targeting a doubling of its paddy output to 180 000 t by 2024 through equipment maintenance and irrigation projects. However, the higher production cost of local rice compared to imports prompted authorities to consider fair pricing mechanisms to support farmers within the broader national goal of reaching 1.4 million t of paddy.

Production paddy rice in Cameroon

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Paddy rice production in Cameroon has declined for two consecutive years. In 2020, production reached 290.4 thousand tonnes, marking a 0.8% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 327.4 thousand tonnes, which represented a 14.0% increase from the prior year. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with production falling by 10.5%.

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

Exports paddy rice from Cameroon

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited considerable volatility during the observed period. In 2018, paddy rice exports from Cameroon peaked at 3 033 tonnes, while in 2019 they dropped to a low of 459 tonnes, representing an 84.9% decline and creating a 6.6-fold difference between these years. By 2020, exports rebounded sharply to 2 285 tonnes, reflecting a substantial 398.3% increase over 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Nigeria and the Central African Republic dominated Cameroon's paddy rice exports, together accounting for 98.8% of total export volumes. Other trading partners played a relatively minor role during this period.

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, K $ US

Market volatility was evident in the value of paddy rice exports from Cameroon. In 2018, export value reached its maximum at 1 728 thousand US dollars, but plummeted to just 64 thousand US dollars in 2019, representing a 96.3% decrease and creating a 27-fold difference between these years. By 2020, export value recovered to 215 thousand US dollars, showing a 234.8% increase compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Central African Republic accounted for the majority of Cameroon's paddy rice export value, representing 71.2% of total flows. The remaining export value was distributed among various other markets.

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

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

Imports paddy rice to Cameroon

Imports in kind, t

Paddy rice imports into Cameroon showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2018, imports reached their lowest point at just 3 tonnes, representing a 79.0% decrease from the previous year. Imports then surged by 411.2% in 2019, before reaching 22 tonnes in 2020, which marked a 65.0% increase year-over-year. The highest import volume in 2020 was 8.4 times greater than the 2018 low.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Cameroon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Chad (38.9% of import volume), China (22.6%), and Nigeria (22.2%) were the primary sources of paddy rice imports into Cameroon, together accounting for 83.7% of total import volumes.

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, K $ US

The value of paddy rice imports into Cameroon displayed notable volatility. In 2018, import value hit its minimum at 2 thousand US dollars, representing an 88.0% decline from the previous year. The following year saw a dramatic 565.0% increase, before imports settled at 10 thousand US dollars in 2020, which was 25.2% lower than in 2019. The peak value in 2017 was 8.3 times higher than the 2018 low.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three key markets—China, Chad, and Nigeria—collectively represented 82.5% of the total value of paddy rice imports into Cameroon.

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

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