Cameroon Cuts Food Import Bill 17% as Rice and Corn Purchases Fall

Cameroon cut its food import bill by CFA11 billion, or about 17%, as purchases of rice and corn from abroad fell sharply, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on August 7, 2026. The decline could ease pressure on the country’s external food bill, although its sustainability remains uncertain.

The value of food imports fell to CFA54 billion from CFA65 billion. In its Cameroon Joint Monitoring Report, the INS attributed much of the decline to rice.

“The decline is mainly due to rice, thanks to the expansion of cultivated areas since 2024 and higher customs duties,” the institute said.

Import duties rose by 5% for ordinary rice and 20% for categories classified as premium rice. The measures aim to make imported rice relatively more expensive while supporting domestic production.

The decline was even sharper for corn. Import values fell from CFA3.9 billion in the first quarter of 2025 to about CFA600 million during the same period in 2026, a drop of nearly 85%.

The shift could reduce Cameroon’s external food bill and its dependence on some international supplies. The INS, however, cautioned that the decline does not stem solely from sustained growth in domestic production.

Nigeria Changes the Market Balance

Several temporary factors also contributed to the decline. The INS cited higher maritime transport costs, which made some imports less attractive.

More rice and corn also remained available on the Cameroonian market after informal exports to neighboring Nigeria slowed. The INS linked the change to several developments in Nigeria, including restrictions on certain imports from outside the Economic Community of West African States, depreciation of the naira and government support for Nigerian agricultural production.

Together, these factors may have kept more grain within Cameroon and reduced the need for imports.

The situation could prove temporary, however. A recovery in trade flows to Nigeria could quickly alter the balance between domestic supply and demand.

The INS therefore warned that the current reduction in imports could create supply pressures over the coming quarters if exports to Nigeria resume or domestic production falls significantly.

Lower Imports Could Also Pressure Farmers

The risks extend beyond consumers. Greater domestic supply combined with weaker demand from Nigeria could put downward pressure on prices received by Cameroonian farmers.

The INS warned that the factors behind lower imports could hurt small farmers who can no longer sell their crops at profitable prices or within their usual timeframes, limiting their ability to buy other food products.

Lower imports, in other words, do not automatically translate into stronger food security or higher farm incomes. If domestic production grows faster than available markets, farmers could face lower prices and difficulty selling their harvests.

Conversely, a strong recovery in informal exports to Nigeria or weaker harvests could leave Cameroon with a smaller supply buffer after the decline in imports, which could put pressure on food availability and prices.

The CFA11 billion reduction therefore represents a potential gain for Cameroon’s external food bill, but one that remains fragile. Turning it into a lasting economic benefit will depend on the country’s ability to sustainably increase domestic production, expand storage and processing capacity, provide profitable markets for farmers and maintain adequate supplies for consumers.

Thiery Christophe Yamb