Rice market in Cameroon

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the rice market volume in Cameroon showed significant volatility. The reduction of import duties to 5% in 2018 supported the inflow of foreign rice, laying the groundwork for subsequent growth. In 2019, imports reached a record 894 thousand tons, leading to market expansion to 1 164 thousand tons. However, in 2020, the market volume contracted to 868 thousand tons, primarily due to a decrease in import supplies.

Starting in 2021, government initiatives such as the Proderip project aimed at increasing local production began to be gradually implemented. Despite this, dependence on imports persisted, and in 2022 the launch of locally packaged rice by the Carrefour network created a new segment for domestic products. The market volume in 2022 grew to 1 156 thousand tons, largely due to sustained imports.

In 2023, regulatory measures including temporary restrictions on imports of Indian rice and a government directive to ensure holiday supplies affected import flows. This led to a decrease in market volume to 941 thousand tons, even as efforts to boost local production continued.

Production rice in Cameroon

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of rice, 2017-2020

Cameroon's rice production has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 290.4 thousand tons of rice, marking a 0.8% decrease from the previous year. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 327.4 thousand tons, which represented a 14.0% increase. 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 rice from Cameroon

Exports in kind, K t

Rice exports from Cameroon have fallen for two consecutive years. In 2020, exports amounted to 13.7 thousand tons, a 38.9% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 21.4%, with an average annual decline of 7.7%. The peak was in 2018 at 26.4 thousand tons, which saw a 51.2% increase.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Chad and Nigeria were the primary destinations for Cameroon's rice exports, accounting for the majority of shipments, while other markets played a smaller role.

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, M $ US

The market exhibited volatility during this period. Exports peaked in 2018 and reached their lowest point in 2020, with a 3.5-fold difference between these years. In 2020, rice exports from Cameroon totaled 3.7 million US dollars, down 60.4% from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 12.9 million US dollars, representing a 71.8% increase.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Chad and the Central African Republic together accounted for 80.3% of the total value of rice exports from Cameroon, with the remaining share distributed among various smaller 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 rice to Cameroon

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Cameroon imported 591.6 thousand tons of rice, a 33.8% decrease year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 18.8%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 6.7%. The lowest import volume was in 2018 at 561.1 thousand tons, while the highest was in 2019 at 894.0 thousand tons, which saw a 59.3% increase.

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

During 2017-2020, Thailand was the leading supplier of rice to Cameroon, providing 70.8% of total imports by volume, with the rest sourced from a diverse range of other countries.

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, M $ US

Cameroon imported rice worth 395.5 million US dollars in 2019, but this dropped sharply to 259.6 million US dollars in 2020, a 29.5% decline. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 11.9%, or an average of 4.1% per year. The lowest value was in 2018 at 259.6 million US dollars, while the peak was in 2019 at 395.5 million US dollars, marking a 52.3% increase.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand dominated Cameroon's rice imports in value terms, holding a 73.5% share of total flows, with the remainder spread across multiple other destinations.

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

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